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LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 



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BY 

HAYDEN SANDS 

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NEW YORK 

W)t Be jnille Company 

145 W. 45TH Street 






Copyright, 191 1, by 
HAYDEN SANDS 






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©Ci.A:i8f>735 



TO LUTES AND LYRES 

To lutes and lyres fain would I bring 
Some rich melodious offering, 
To hail, invisible, those Choirs 
That fold the flames and fan the fires, 
And draw round Life the magic ring; 
That from my pipes true love might fling 
Songs of a new seraphic Spring, 
Rending Lifers dreams of lost desires 
To Lutes and Lyres. 

But should bare frosts about me cling. 
To bear me down, to clip my wing. 
On Wind, on Wave, that still aspires 
To change and range yet never tires, 
Then with the Stars Til louder sing 
To Lutes and Lyres. 



CONTENTS 

PART I 

SONGS OF LIGHT 

PAGE 

Song of the Dawn . 13 

Songs Unheard 16 

At Venice 16 

In After Years 18 

The Dream Child 19 

Love and Hope 20 

Earthbound 21 

White and Red 23 

By Still Waters 24 

The Dancer 25 

The Question 27 

The Open Road 28 

The Shadow 29 

Love's Serenade 30 

June 31 

The Merry House 32 

Remembrance 33 

Beyond 34 

Hope 36 

Life 37 

Francesca De Rimini 38 

Diana, Lady of Light 40 

The Dream of Gold 41 

A Summer's Idyl 43 

The Coming of Dawn 45 

Childhood 46 



CONTENTS 



PAGE 

Constancy 47 

A Prayer at the Dawn 48 

Thoughts 49 

Heart of the Loving Flame 50 

The Three Oreads 52 

The Wandering Voice^ 53 

When the Hills are in Song 55 

The Revelers 59 

A Song for the Navy 60 

The Call of the Wild 65 

A Summer's Phantasy 66 

A Song to Beauty 69 



PART n 

SONGS OF THE EVENTIDE 

A Supplication 73 

The Ultimate 76 

The Vast Love 76 

Time, Not of Man 78 

Night Will Soon be Here 79 

Mortality 84 

The House of Sin 88 

Earth-Free 92 

Dream-Spirits 93 

The Worker 94 

Hymn to Evening 94 

Sunset . . . . , .96 

At the Eventide 97 

November 99 

A Prayer at the End of Things 99 

The Waif 102 

Brief is the Night 108 

Love Lives Anew 108 

Shadows iii 

Twilight 112 

The Sea Change 113 



CONTENTS 



PAGE 

The Difference 114 

Dreams of Eternal Youth 115 •' 

Hold Fast, O Soul 116 

Age 117 

Children of the Sun 117 

A Nocturne 121 

The Last Flowers 122 

Oh, Blame Me Not 123 

Fly, Shadow, Fly 124 

Song of the Night Wind to Diana 127 

Sleep 129 

As We Go 130 

The Path of Tears 131 

Soul i35 

Uncertainty i35 

The Toll 136 

Fidelity 136 

Good Night I37 

The Garden of Love 138 

Flight 140 



X 



PART I 
SONGS OF LIGHT 



SONG OF THE DAWN 



I am the Dawn! 

My wings are drawn 

From the lips of the World's bright Dreams; 

As I rush along 

With Earth's new song, 

On the floods of my orient streams; 

For I am the child % 

Of love that is wild — 

Of life that is new and strong! 

With brows of gold, 

And lips that hold 

The red of the rose-red wine, 

I leap and I run 

From the night that is done, 

Through the heavens that all are mine. 

Tinging my quivers 

In the broad bright rivers 

Of the shafts of the great blood sun. 

Whose mists unfold 

In shadowy gold, 

On the winds of the world slow waki«g; 

In yellow, white. 

And violet, 

[13] 



LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 



And bolder colors, shaking 

Their lights overhead 

All purple and red, 

On the stars that are all but set. 

As I toss the brine 

Of my crimson wine 

On the petals of Earth's pale flowers, 

When the lights arise 

From the filmy eyes 

Of Love and her paramours; 

Weaving my locks 

With gay hollyhocks 

To fling to the aureate skies. 

With daffodils 

And cloudy hills 

Of hyacinth and roses. 

That I breathe into blooms 

From the misty rooms 

Which the light of love discloses; 

As life attains 

Her fuller stains 

From the weft of the brightening looms. 

Till I fade away 

By the light of day 

With my crowds that follow after; 

Singing on flutes 

As best each suits — 

Morning, and all her laughter; 

[14] 



SONGS OF LIGHT 



Rending the skies 

With the fires that rise 

From the lips of their clear stringed lutes. 

As they ride the clouds 
In riotous crowds, 
Pelting with rosy showers, 
The cloudy shoals 
Which the Day unrolls 
All carpeted in flowers; 
Flinging the wreaths 
Of their sun-bright leaves 
From the stars of their aureoles. 

From whose lights arise 

Those rhapsodies 

On the wings of the winds eolian, 

That awake the hymns 

Of my Cherubims 

Rending the skies with their glorious paen, 

Whose mysteries 

Are the symphonies 

Sung by invisible Seraphims! 

And never a flower 

But feels the power 

Of the sounds of my lyric shell ! 

As I pass along 

With that heavenly throng 

That sings so strangely well; 

[15] 



LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 



For the heavenly fires 

Are my bright lyres 

And the wings of the wind my song! 



SONGS UNHEARD 

Silver Harp, bright Harp, Harp with lips of gold ! 
Tell me of that music which the lost Worlds hold ! 
Tell me of that music, of those songs that unheard sweep. 
When the winds are drifting seawards, when the World 
is one with sleep. 



Full Heart, sad Heart, Heart of earthly Pain, 

Wash away the ashes, wash away the stain! 

Music of the Inner Soul, wash away the red. 

If thou wouldst hear our Paeons, Songs of the Dead! 



AT VENICE 

The moon is shining bright, 

The winds have ceased to roam, 

The sea is white with light; 
O Love, to thy casement come ! 

Now Dreams of Night bid Dawn appear, 

And Daylight hides her bitter tear, 

Love, wilt thou never hear! 

[i6] 



SONGS OF LIGHT 



My bark with sail is set, 

To bear thee out with song; 
O Love, forget, forget, 

Daylight and all her throng; 
The stars grow dim, the hour is late, 
The Dawn too soon will leave her mate. 
Let us no longer wait! 

But feed me from above 

With kisses deep and long, 
And I shall be thy Love, 

And thou shalt be my Song; 
And I will make us all of gold 
A Harp, that evermore will hold 
Music, should love grow cold. 

And thou shalt live to bear 

All joy for thee and me. 
And I will wreathe thy hair 

With lilies of the sea. 
All gathered from those far sea streams 
That sleep within the moonlight's beams. 
Hung with their heavy dreams. 

And I shall make thy lips 

Nurse the wild strains Love brings; 
And show thee wondrous ships. 

And tell thee of strange things; 
And visions of new life shall rise 
To fold with light our filmy eyes. 
When Dawn to Daylight dies. 

[17] 



LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 



With Love upon the sea 

To guide our little boat, 
Ah, such our dreams shall be, 

That we will one day float 
Beyond the waves, not knowing how 
The wreath of stars upon our brow 
Fell from the golden glow. 

Love, wilt thou never hear! 

The moon is waning white. 
The day but hides her tear. 

The east is streaked with light; 
Oh, let us now no longer roam. 
But through the starlight, come, oh, come, 
Here to the Heart's own home. 



IN AFTER YEARS 

Should Love awake from roses, bled 
To paler white from once full red, 
I would not ask the reason why, 
I would not wait for her reply. 
Should Love come touch my wintry bed. 

But I would bind about my head 
(In memory of those years long fled) 
Roses, that live and cannot die, 
Should Love awake! 



[i8] 



SONGS OF LIGHT 



And all the Dreams that Youth has bred, 
That rise like wraiths when light is shed, 
Would round me range from earth and sky, 
To sing again and testify; 
Though eye be dimmed the heart's not dead, 
Should Love awake! 



THE DREAM CHILD 

Come, strike the lyre stout and bold. 

Now Age her Song's revising! 
Brightly she leans from her casement cold; 
Bright are her eyes, and bright the fold 
That girdles her locks, of burnished gold; 

The new bent moon is rising! 

Dress her in roses red and rare, 

Open her casement prison! 
And fling a rose from her sun-stained hair, 
To the starry world that linger there: 
Music is sweet on the Summer's air. 

When the full faced moon is risen. 

Still is the earth and still the skies, 

With only Love complaining; 
And stiller yet the Dreamer's eyes. 
As over the hills she onward flies, 
Back to the vale where the Dream Child lies; 

The Summer's moon is waning. 

[19] 



LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 



Moan us a chant of days of old, 

And let us be forgetting! 
Come with lilies, come with cold 
Camellias from the outer world; 
And let faint beads be faintly told ; 

The languid moon is setting! 

Cold are the wild winds — let them rave! 

And let us but forget! 
And bear her to some lonely cave, 
Where leafless boughs and sedge shall wave, 
Dim Memorials, o*er her grave; 

The Harvest moon hath set! 



LOVE AND HOPE 

Oh, ask me not if still I love! 

Love such as mine can never die. 
It dwells in Springtime with the Dove, 

In Summer with the clouds above 
Freeing to earth and sky. 

Love, Love, sweet Love, Love that can never die. 

Oh, ask me not if still I hope ! 

Hope born of Love can never pass; 
It dwells upon a Summer's slope 

Where winter's storm can never cope 
To blight the good green grass; 

Hope, Hope, sweet Hope, Hope that can never pass. 

[20] 



SONGS OF LIGHT 



EARTHBOUND 

By shores that end not, yet away 
Stretch ever from the light of day, 
Three forms I met, in mantles grey. 

To me the first had long since died ; 
The second came all leaden eyed; 
The last, all faint, sang by their side. 

** And I am Grief,'* she sorrowing said ; 
'^ The second Love — we twain are wed, 
The first is Hope, our Child long dead. 

" Dim years ago a winding-sheet 
Was drawn round our arms and feet; 
Now only in the night we meet. 

" Yes, years ago from yonder door. 
We came with Death to this same shore. 
And in our arms our dead Child bore, 

** Unto the gates of Paradise! 
And then we opened wide our eyes. 
Alas! we knew not of such skies. 

" We felt they were a deeper blue, 

There flowers more rich than earthwards grew. 

And yet, it was not as we knew, 

[21] 



LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 



" Yes, we of Earth conceived in sin, 
Heard not of their high violin, 
Yet all the Angels took us in ! 

" And bore to us with outstretched arms, 
White lily wreaths and stately palms, 
And kissed our lips to heavenly psalms. 

" And all God's Choristers were there 

To gird about our aureoled hair. 

With ropes of pearls and emeralds rare, 

"And bands of gold with jacinth set; 

Yet we could never quite forget 

Of the dear earth where we had met. 

" So now within the aging years 

We come amidst her Glooms and Fears, 

To live again our earthly tears. 

" And when the World is lost in sleep 
Once more our former dreams we keep. 
And sometimes smile, yet more times weep. 

" No, not for crowns with bright jewels set 

Can we of Heaven quite forget 

The dear green Earth where first we met/' 

Thus murmuring sadly they at last. 
Like to the winds, all seawards past. 
Like to the mist when night falls fast. 

[22] 



SONGS OF LIGHT 



Yet in their wake I heard among 
The trail of Dead, and it was long 
The whispering of this same sweet song. 

Yes, ever as I hear the rain 
Upon the dead, the same refrain 
Comes whispering to me back again: 

** Though all our Dreams with Song be set, 

Yet never can we quite forget 

The dear green Earth where first we met." 



WHITE AND RED 

He saw her not but heard her sing 
Soft madrigals of earliest Spring; 

The while she tossed him from her hair, 
A Rose both white and mild ; 

And he below, who lingered there, 
Knew 'tu^as a gentle Child! 

Long years are passed ! Again she sings, 
Yet now in strains of fuller Springs; 

He hears, and coming with the years, 
Now stained to deeper wine. 

He finds the Rose of bitter tears. 
Redder, yet more divine! 

[23] 



LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 



BY STILL WATERS 

Often I hear by the lapse of the water 

Of a weird and wonderful sea, 
A sound that is fleet as of hurrying feet, 

Of feet that would fain be free; 
And I think of the Seaman's daughter, 

And I wonder can it be she ! 
That murmuring, sweet as the sound is fleet — 

Sweet sound that can no more be. 

Yes, often I think of the Seaman's daughter 

(I wonder can she now be) ; 
How we looked through our love to the stars all 
above ; 

How we dreamed of a life that would be 

(A life that could never quite be). 
Yes, oft as I walk by the water 

Comes echoing, wild and free, 
A strange dim song, and it sweeps along 

The waves of the same dear sea. 

Oh, I love to hark by the edge of the water 

Of that weird, irresistible sea; 
And the sound of the shells, they are all my bells. 
Whispering old things to me. 

[24] 



SONGS OF LIGHT 



And I think of the Seaman's daughter, 

And I wonder, can it be she ! 
Those whispering bells in the tiny shell's, 

Murmuring of things to be. 

Yes, often I think of the Seaman's daughter 
When the Night is on the Sea, 

And dream of those faces, life's holy places. 
As I weep by my Willow Tree, 
By the foot of my Cypress Tree. 

Yes, oft I go down to the edge of the water 
(O God, that I too were free!). 

To dream of those faces, life's holy places, 
That ceased when she ceased to me ! 



THE DANCER 

Imperious eye with passion set, 
The whirling click of Castanet, 
Oh, never can I quite forget 
The Dance, the Girl, the Cigarette. 

The gauzy veil of purpling mist. 
The sinuous curves of arms and wrist; 
At every turn, at every twist. 
Glances, where fires all strange persist. 

[25] 



LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 



And many a strand and careless curl 
Of ebon tresses all awhirl; 
And spangled damasks that unfurl 
In amorous waves of gold and pearl. 

And filaments of clinging lace! 
What painter's brush could hope to trace, 
That rhythmic poise now slow with grace, 
Now, wild emotion in its place. 

Why linger here? The hour is late; 
You of the West can never sate ; 
They of the East alone can fete, 
The flashing eye insinuate. 

The changing attitude, now bent 
Madly to rude abandonment. 
Imperious, pose insolent; 
Yet now again all penitent. 

As bending low in sensuous dips. 
Faster and faster on she slips. 
Wilder, more wild the music drips. 
Impetuous, from the viol's lips. 

To swaying forms that beckon on 
From generations past and gone; 
Dim phantoms not of flesh or bone. 
Whose magic lures the music on. 

[26] 



SONGS OF LIGHT 



Oh, ask me not how beauty throws 
Motion and glamour, Wine and Rose, 
Into the dance as on she goes, 
The East but knows, the East but knows! 



THE QUESTION 

Dear heart, if all my flowers 

Were kindled to red wine; 
If all my wild desires 
Could fan to ardent fires 
The lyrics of my lyres. 

What songs would then be thine! 
What dreams of old dead hours; 

On Seas what Stars would shine ! 
If all my fruits and flowers 

Were crushed to crimson wine! 

If all thy songs were flowers, 

And all these flowers mine, 
What flames would feed the fires, 
To wake those same sweet lyres! 
If Love that never tires. 

And Life but nursed the Vine! 
What rich dim golden hours 

Would shrine the wine divine! 
If all thy songs were flowers, 

And all the vintage mine/ 

[27] 



LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 



Yet if our dreams were flowers, 

And all our blood was wine, 
Could Love again those fires 
Stain with the old desires; 
Could Life, and Love and Lyres, 

Rise as incarnadine! 
I wonder! Could such hours 

Again be thine and mine! 
Though Life were in the flowers. 

And Love were in the wine ! 



THE OPEN ROAD 

Oh, good it is the long green road 
That lures us on with joy all free; 
And good it is to hear the Sea 

Vet know that Earth is thy abode. 

To walk with open heart abroad. 
To pay, for once, to Care no toll; 
The sunlight in thine eyes, thy Soul 

Alone with Nature and its God. 



[28] 



SONGS OF LIGHT 



THE SHADOW 

One dreary night, as I did pass, 
I heard a murmuring of the grass; 
" And soon with us he'll make his bed, 
And we will grow from his cold head." 

" Nay,'* cried the leaves above, " I ween 
From such as him we take our green " ; 
** And I," cried Red Rose, " once again 
Shall soon renew my vaunted stain." 

And Gentian, " Not from the blue skies, 
I steal my blue, but from his eyes," 
And one gold aster, lingering there, 
" And I the gold from his gold hair." 

That night I heard a knocking; wide 
I flung the door — Death stepped inside ! 
" And welcome Shadow to my hall, 
I fear thee not, for I know all. 

" My ashes lovelier form will take; 
My Soul to newer birth awake." 
I turned, but Lo! the Night had gone. 
Now all the hills were light with Dawn! 

[29] 



LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 



LOVE'S SERENADE 

Many the dreams that I have sought, 

Yet lovelier far 
Than these, of thee one simple thought; 

The wild red rose, the mild guitar, 

The one large star. 

That night of nights long years ago. 

When I among 
The Nightingales, far, far below. 

Sang from amidst the shadowy throng 

My wild love song. 

Sang from the dusk, that I might share 

Those dreams that fold 
The stars within the Night's dim hair. 

And bind thee round with songs all told 

In moonbright gold. 

And ropes of rubies that should bleed, 

Till Love had kist 
Away all pain ; and moonstones freed 

From sorrow, pearls and amethyst. 

All lovely mist. 



[30] 



SONGS OF LIGHT 



Oh, Lips now pale, where blooms once red 

Fed wan delight; 
Where dreams still feed though life be fled! 

Where is thy song, that Summer's night, 

The white star's light! 

The casement bright, the starlit air. 

And you above 
With languorous arms and falling hair, 

Trembling, like some faint timorous dove - 

Ah, this was love ! 

This, this was Life! Until there rose 

The cold blight Moon, 
And wailing winds, and blasts that chose 

To woo thee with their bitter tune — 

Soon, soon, too soon ! 



JUNE 

Thin curving brow that knows no worldly pain; 

Strange eyes, wherein the moon her moonbeam meets; 
And lips, ah! lips flushed with as deep a stain 

As summer fruits hung full with ripening sweets; 
And breath wherein but Beauty ever rests — 
Oh, Love, Love, Love, to dream upon thy breasts ! 



[31] 



LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 



To know that thou art mine, and I, Heart, thine! 

Two Songs as one upon the night winds blown! 
Two flowers full stained from one perpetual wine, 

Midst music flung for us, and us alone 
Earthwards, from all the stars upon the Sea; 
Ah, Life, Life, Life, that Death can ever be! 

To hear the melancholy rains aloof, 

Moaning upon those leaves that ever seem 

To interlock their greenness in one roof, 

Shading to dreams begetting lovelier dreams; 

Lips far away, like Dawn, from earthly sorrow; 

Ah, Grief, Grief, Grief, what fruits can Love not borrow ! 

To feel thou art the seed, and I the sheaf. 
To hold that love from earthly griefs above; 

That every bloom, yea, every tender leaf. 
Trembles the hour, for this our holy love! 

When all about new fruitage gilds the bough; 

O, Love, Love, Love, to dream forever now! 



THE MERRY HOUSE 

Bells, bells that are tolling. 

Drearily, drearily; 
Wedding bells rolling 

And rolling all cheerily. 

[32] 



SONGS OF LIGHT 



Grave diggers flinging, 
Yet, singing merrily; 

Somewhere, tears springing, 
Verily, verily! 

** Oh, what a merry Home! " 

Little Worm cried : 
" And welcome, and welcome, 

Soon all to my side." 



REMEMBRANCE 

Beloved, do I but think of thee, 

Thy gentle ways, thy voice, thy grace, 
The beauty of thine earthly face, 

When once we walked beside the Sea; 

I need must grieve what now thou art, 
A Cloud, a Light, a sun-fed Hour, 
The Rainbow changing to the Flower; 

For now with these thou art a part ! 

Oh, could I feel thee but again — 

Thy hair all warm, thy lips, thine eyes ; 
What starlight dreams would then arise, 

To wash away all earthly pain ! 



[33] 



LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 



But thou art yet than these more fair, 

A Lyre of the Wind, a Song ; 

A part of that great Sunset Throng 
That stains the west with sun-stained hair. 

The whispering of the first faint light, 
A note in the vast symphony 
Of Nature's music, wild and free ; 

A moan upon the lips of Night ! 

And that is why I still rejoice 

Midst withering leaf and dropping fruit ; 

Hoping still yet like some wild lute 
To be the medium of thy Voice! 



BEYOND 

Lovely is Summer, lovelier Spring 

(Scatter the pale white Jasmine flowers) ; 

See how the May-Bird plumes its wing; 
Frail are Spring's faint hours! 

Oh, weave your locks with sheaves of gold, 

And a dash of red for the heart that is cold ! 

See how the ripe fields mellow now 
(Sorrow is fleet, yet Pleasure fleeter) ; 

Sweet are the blooms of May's white bough, 
Yet Summer's fruitage sweeter; 

Most lovely Dream with the warm red lips. 

Oh, crush the vine ere the Blood-Moon dips. 

[34] 



SONGS OF LIGHT 



How shrill the winds of Evening sigh 

(Loosen your locks for white Lotus flowers) ; 

Hark how the timid Dawn creeps by, 
Cold is Death's last hours! 

Oh, Beauteous Star on the still far sea, 

How red the blood-rose of Memory! 

Away, away, and let me lie 

Here where the sere leaves fall together; 
See how the swallows southward fly! 

Ah me ! what Wintry weather ; 
What is June when the rose is fled, 
What is Life when Red Love lies dead! 

What is Life now the Summer weeps. 
To straw and sickle and Winter Moon ! 

Yet what is Death now the Harvest sleeps. 
All full with seed for a later June, 

Midst the wrecks and dreams of the Summer tide! 

Oh, what is Night though the Day has died! 

Then come with me where those phantoms rise, 
Whose aureoles are Life's mysteries; 

For the dreams of earth are the light of their eyes ; 
Their songs, Earth's brightest imageries! 

Yet the fringe of their violet robes of light 

Marks but the marge of the Infinite! 



[35] 



LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 



HOPE 

Her hands upon the harp's bright strings 

Played in a tremulous rhapsody; 

Like the sound of leaves when the aspen tree 
Meets the rush of the wind's free wings. 

7^ ^ 7^ ¥^ 7^ ^ 

Oh, who has not heard the beauteous song, 
Oh, who has not felt her changeful lyres, 
Striking their chords in immortal fires. 

To the Dreams of the Years as they pass along! 

Oh, who has not seen her sitting there. 

Midst the golden sheaves of an Autumn night, 
When winds are low and the moon hangs bright 

Drenching the strands of her starlight hair. 

And who has not seen her in Summer's June, 

And who has not heard her when cold winds blow, 
When the trees are swept by the Winter's snow; 

Singing, singing the same strange tune! 

And who has not felt her in Morning's prime. 
When the red sun rose from his rose-red bed; 
And who has not heard her when day was dead. 

And the heart grew sick from its ceaseless time. 

[36] 



SONGS OF LIGHT 



And who shall not hear her forevermore, 

Playing the same wild rhapsody ! 

Like the song of the Dawn to a troubled sea, 
By the tides of a far dim distant shore. 



LIFE 

Life, thou art a lovely tear. 

Like to a dew-drop on a flower, 

Trembling, to find how little here 
Is wealth and power. 

The heaven's moment offering, 

Quivering, a sweet yet bitter thing. 

Till but the echo of the Song 

We pass along! 

Thou art a drop from that great heart 
Which bids all things around us move ; 

Seeking to find thy counterpart. 
Enduring Love ! 

Love that redeems for one small hour; 

A lovely and a lowly flower. 

Touching our lips with stain of pain, 

Yet not in vain. 

Alluring as the dusk your dawn. 
Evasive as the mists your flight, 

A sudden star from starlight torn, 
A day's delight ; 

[37] 



LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 



Thou frail inconstant flickering brand 
Tossed through the years from hand to hand, 
What fears and hopes beset thy breath ! 
What Truths thy death! 

Unknown Child by Beauty set 

Upon the dim Eternities, 
That rim and rise yet soon forget 

What round us lies; 
Thou art the great Invisible, 
Our Morning and our Evening bell ; 
Thee, may we touch, yet may not know 
Till Death lays low. 



FRANCESCA DE RIMINI 

Last night I saw them pass, last night, once only. 
When down the hills went Eve upon her way; 

Two astral shades upon the Silence dreaming. 
Passing as one upon their perilous way. 

Deep in a cloud of starry mist upborne. 
No lute, no harp, no choric chant, no song; 

Silent they passed upon their songless way; 

Seeming they fled like Night, God's happier throng. 

Yet on the wind's melodious moan than this. 
Of all God's Choristers, no Spirit deems 

To sing in clearer light — the flaming glow. 
That circlewise halos their inner dreams. 

[38] 



SONGS OF LIGHT 



The earthly love, the light, the sacrifice. 

That spurned those vows which vainly Earth did tell! 
I saw it pass; no holier light 

Illumes God's brightest angel, Uriel. 

And on their arms the Amaryllis slept, 

Still as those shafts the winter's moonbeams throw; 
And three white lilies pressed their mingling breast. 

Cold, cold as Death, and whiter than white snow. 

And on their lips, invisible, the snake 

Still fed upon the moonbeams cold and white, 

And yet their eyes, turned from their arduous mate, 
Saw not the darkness of enduring night. 

For ever and anon, like throbbing stars. 
The old love kindled came, and died away, 

Past like the meteors through the night descending. 
Bright for an instant midst their starry fays. 

Impassioned Love too deep, too deep the pain 
To urge with moan upon the midnight hours; 

No cry they made, but fading like a dream 

Dropped in my upturned hands two mingling flowers. 

Flung to my hands upturning to the stars, 

Two flowers full fed upon the Heaven's rain; 

One, nursed with waters of enduring love, 
One, purged by fires of unending pain. 

[39] 



LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 



And these two flowers I hold, these, only these. 
When lights the moon the far upsailing cloud ; 

Two astral shades upon the midnight dreaming. 
Urged by the Phantoms of a countless crowd. 

Thus through the years happily they bear their cross, 
Born by the winged dreams that round them rise! 

Oh, what can alter such great primal love. 
Whose Night is brighter than our Paradise! 



DIANA, LADY OF LIGHT 

White Lady of Light, from the places 

Of viol and violet trees. 
Rise up with the Night's misty faces, 

Swing out over hills, over leas, 

From the musical magical seas; 
From the mystical murmuring fountains 

Wan phantasy, pallid and pale. 
Oh, come over meadows and mountains 

For thy measureless sail. 

All tinseled in tremulous shadows, 
All hidden in quivering light, 

Over marsh, over moors, over meadows. 
From the fanciful wake of thy flight. 
Look down from thy perilous height; 

Bright Beauty past all understanding. 
Thou symbol of ultimate rest; 

[40] 



> 
^'ONGS OF LIGHT 



Oh, Point us, Oh, Tell us the landing 
Of thy querulous quest. 

Art thou seeking, with love like a Mortal, 
Some dream of a shadowy throng. 

As up from the Night's misty portal 
With music to waft thee along. 
Thou comest with harp and with song? 

Art thou lonely, all pale in thy streaming, 
Art thou weary of wandering far? 

Or hast thou deep caught to thy dreaming 
The flame of a Star? 

Oh, why should I link thee with Sorrow, 
Light, luring as love and as brief; 

Why, why should I chant thee and follow 
With myrtles, and flowers of grief, 
With lilies all white in the leaf! 

Why, why, but that I am a Shadow, 
Of Earth, and must weave as I weep; 

Forgive ; from the wraiths of the meadow 
Pass on — I would sleep. 



THE DREAM OF GOLD 

Thin strands of gold and lilies loosely spread. 
Round arms all languid, arms of milky hue. 

And airs, warm airs breathed from full petals red. 
All ripely red, heaped where the June winds blew 

[41] 



LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 



To lips (where pearls did He) the stain of love; 

And song like myrrh and incense, richly fed 
From melting Winds, to mellowing fruits above; 

Where rose and lily, jealous lest they bare 

Their blended dreams unto the Moon's soft light, 

To far strange sounds of music, drench the air 
With drowsy languors through the long sweet night, 

When all is still and the warm Moon swings late 
Into that stillness which the white stars share, 

And all the night with love is satiate; 

And pearl and ruby melting to one wine 

Mingling (where emeralds hang) with crimson fruits, 
Ripening green boughs to drops incarnadine. 

While sun-browned boys play on with ivory flutes 
To maidens passing by in honeyed ease. 

Bearing on silver salvers bowls that shine 
With odorous oils from the far southern seas; 

And slaves of ebony slow filing by. 

With leopard skins and chalices of pearl, 
And silken hammocks, where dark maidens lie 

Far gazing to those clouds that ever curl 
Into the dreams of young Endymions, 

Fashioning such dreams, each one beneath his sky. 
Till Winter twilights turn to Summer suns; 

As Dawn with ruddy youth to flute and fife 

Looms from rich shores on clouds of shotted gold, 

[42] 



I 



SONGS OF LIGHT 



Where love enduring, music and song are rife, 
Flushing to red the crystal urns that hold 

The crushed-out wine of Love's eternal streams; 
Such, such is Poesy, Earth's maturing life. 

And Death's last token, being Life's long Dream. 



A SUMMER'S IDYL 

Beneath the hawthorne tree 
Come sit vi^ith me; 

Here where the Summer's long noon shadows pass; 
Here in the cooling shade 
Whose leaves have laid 

Their shadowy fingers on the wind-stirred grass. 
Come sing to me, 
And bring to me 

Out of the newer day some fresh born joy; 
Wield thy sweet quill 
To Nature's fill. 
And gather thy notes 
From the birds' happy throats ; 
Sing, sing in joyous ecstasy, 

Brown-throated shepherd boy. 

Here on the grassy lea 
Come sit by me; 

Here where soft hills of waving poppies keep 
The tender blue-eyed flowers 

[43] 



LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 



Their paramours 

Through the warm languorous hours in stillest sleep. 
Come sing to me 
And fling to me 

Garlands all wreathed with bright auroral songs; 
Cast to the streams 
Thy noonday dreams; 
Pipe, pipe on thy quills 
Of the joys of the hills; 
Sing, sing of flocks and pastures fresh, 

Strains of glad shepherd throngs. 

Come with thy pipings clear ! 
Fain would I hear 

Thy melodies rich fading through the vale; 
Till all the green hillside 
In shadows wide 

Down with far dreams, slips like a glimmering sail. 
Come sing to me, 
And bring to me 

The Voice of Youth, the Rose, the Flute of Gold ; 
Wield, wield, thy quill 
To every hill. 
For Youth cannot cloy. 
Brown-throated shepherd boy! 
Sing, sing in joyous ecstasy; 

Soon will the shadows fold ! 



[44] 



SONGS OF LIGHT 



THE COMING OF DAWN 

Calm as the coming of Dawn, 

At the first faint touch of light, 
I arose with the last veil drawn 

From the lips of the sleeping Night; 
When thinnest song first lightly floats 
Inviolate, from the Linnet's notes. 
Awakening in a thousand throats, 
The gladness of the Day. 

Then Dawn to my window-sill came, 

Dawn, with the stars in her hair; 
Purple and golden the flame 

That rose through the tremulous air ; 
And then she fanned me with her wings. 
And whispered old forgotten things. 
Until again from long lost Springs 
There loomed the newer Day. 

Her breath from my being updrew 

Joy, from the soul of my song ; 
I felt we were one and I knew 

The breed of that glorious throng. 
Who bending, pressed their lips on mine, 
And cried: ** Dear Child, all joy is thine 
If thou to our sweet song incline: 
* Hope, and the bright-eyed Day.* " 

[45] 



LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 



CHILDHOOD 

Little People of a day, 

Dreaming in your world alone; 
Smiling, tearing, laughing, gay, 

Fleet of foot and lithe of bone: 
Who shall say but that you are 
Of some new and lovelier star? 

With your great mild open eyes 

Pondering in your strange demesnes, 

Looking at us in surprise 

When we ask you what it means ; 

Who shall say but that you are 

Wafted from a dream afar? 

Singing songs we know not of ; 

Seeking out with vain appeal 
What there is in Life or Love, 

Till the Years upon you steal ; 
Who shall say but that you are 
Children of a sunnier star? 

Who shall say your simple joys. 
Things we little understand. 

Wondering eyes and childish toys, 
Mystic lines from tiny hand, 

Are not from some wandering star, 

Signals, from across the bar? 

[46] 



SONGS OF LIGHT 



To the airy flowers born, 

Painting Earth with fairy skies; 

Looking to each lovelier dawn 

With your full and dreamy eyes; 

Who shall say but that you're not 

Of some song now long forgot! 



CONSTANCY 

Glory, though the day has fled, 

Trails upon the sea; 
Beauty, though the bloom be dead. 

Lingers in the memory. 

Hope still dwells within the eyes. 
Loitering, though our joys be run; 

So though Dawn to Daylight dies. 
Love will linger on! 



A PRAYER AT THE DAWN 

O Christ in Heaven, be with me, lend 
A heart both meek and mild; 

Look down on me, thy little friend. 
Behold thy gentle Child. 

[47] 



LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 



Tonight, if in my troubled sleep 

My breath Ye deem to take, 
I pray Thee, Christ, my soul to keep; 

Be with me when I wake! 

I know some day I go afar; 

And yet I will not fear; 
For if I know not every star, 

I know that Thou art near. 

Awake, asleep, O never let 

Thy words be quite forgot; 
Yet if I should one hour forget, 

O Christ, forget me not! 

Today I questioned midst my joys, 

The answer I did miss! 
And pouting, threw away my toys; 

Forgive me, Lord, for this. 

And let me know that Thou art near, 

Christ ever with me be. 
Although / may not always hear 

The words Thou speak for me. 

And teach thy little child to hold 

The sun within her heart ; 
Though meadows brown be bare with cold, 

And every bird depart. 

[48] 



SONGS OF LIGHT 



And teach me, Lord, to gladly live 
Content with bread to dine ; 

Remembering how the many give 
Praises, for less than mine. 

O Christ, be ever with me ; lend 
A heart both meek and mild ; 

Look down on me, thy little friend; 
Behold a simple Child. 



THOUGHTS 

There is a power 
In a simple flower, 
And a charm in a child's mild eyes, 
And a wild delight 
In a shaft of light 
As it falls through the sorrowing skies 
(When last lights sweep 
Calm waters deep 
And the sound of the daylight dies), 
That are strange with hope, and as potent to me 
As the opening leaves of a leafing tree; 
Or the beacon light on a spaceless sea 

When the waves are driven white; 
Or the symbols of Light when the stars are caught 
In the mesh, which the infinite heights have wrought. 

[4<>] 



i! 



LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 



There is a vague sense of eternity 
In the very act of the mind's small flight; 
That bids the prison soul be free, 
Though our world is a world of mystery 

(Where Death and Grief 

Breed misbelief), 
And our thoughts are as endless night. 



HEART OF THE LIVING FLAME 

Like a phantom cloud, like a driven leaf, 

Child of the dim unknown; 
We have passed from the paths of a fruitless grief 

Hither and hither blown; 
And now with the throng as it passes along 

We sing to a different breath. 
Though we know the chase and the fitful race 

Is one with the Song of Death. 

We have tried to live as those others live 

Who pass in their barren way, 
To those skies where passionless prophets give 

False signs at the ebbing day; 
But we chose to close but Love's blood red rose 

In a chalice of molten gold. 
Though our tears still rain, in vain, in vain, 

On the fires our hearts still hold. 

[50] 



n 



SONGS OF LIGHT 



Though our fitful pulse it beats, it beats, 

For the clearer, stronger light; 
And the Dance of Death in the world still cheats 

Day with her leprous night; 
Yet drop, by drop, as the phantoms stop, 

On the rush of the wind's wild sway. 
We crush the full flowers to the cup that is ours, 

The cup that is ours for a day. 

We gather the blooms of the ripest bough, 

And sing through the Morning's rain, 
And wreathe red roses round our brow. 

Though our cheeks be pale with pain. 
Though the eye be dull and the heart be full 

With the dust of a mortal birth. 
Yet we sing and laugh as we ever quaff 

From the dreams of the bright eyed earth. 

We have left the grey of the ashen day 

Where the stars but seldom beam. 
And cleft the tears of the bitter way. 

To dream but esthetic dreams; 
Where the open love of the stars above 

Is the stain of the weft of the loom. 
Where Beauty waits at her golden gates 

'Midst flowers of deathless bloom. 

Oh, Beauteous Wraith from Earth's forms long fled, 

Heart of the Living Flame; 
Though Autumn Winds and leaves that are bled 

Rush on with the years the same; 

[51] 



LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 



Though cold rains rave on the Lover's grave, 
And beat where their wild lips fed, 

Still bright is thy Light, Dream of the Night, 
Soul of the passioned dead! 



THE THREE OREADS 

First a nymph from out her girth 

Offered pearls and worldly treasures; 

" Hast thou nothing more of worth 
Than such baubles, dreams of pleasure! 

Nay, sweet nymph, I'll none of thee, 

Roses are too frail for me; 

Not for me such fleeting treasures. 

Changeable, as maiden's pleasures." 

Then a second from her hair 

Plucked the lily of cold sorrow; 

" Come, with me my myrtles share ! " 
" Nay, sweet sister, I can borrow 

No such amulet from thee; 

Lilies are too cold for me ; 

I would crave a softer sorrow 

If I must sweet sorrow borrow." 

Then a third of milder mien. 
She whose name is Melancholy, 

[52] 



SONGS OF LIGHT 



Showed me the more lasting green 

Of the constant winter holly; 
So I chose with her to be, 
Favoring such constancy, 
Rather than to sometime dwell 
With a Rose ephemeral. 



THE WANDERING VOICE 

Bright Voice, I cannot name thee. 

My ignorance doth shame me, 

And yet thy song should fame thee 

'Midst all thy forest peers! 
So thoughtwards will I chase thee 
With harmless words, and raise thee 
A pyre of song to praise thee, 

In light of after years. 

In other days thy measures. 
Richer than vaunted treasures, 
IVe heard with rising pleasures. 

And felt another birth; 
Like music at the Dawning, 
You linger till the Morning 
Passing, with her bright awning. 

Lights the awakening Earth. 

IVe heard the Finch and other 
Songsters of greenwood cover, 

[53] 



LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 



Yet never such another 

As your clear liquid voice; 
Pray linger and be near me, 
And never more now fear me, 
Your notes do more than cheer me 
And make^e to rejoice. 

I would that on the morrow 
That I myself might follow 
Thee to some greenwood hollow 

Beneath thy favorite tree; 
Where honey bees are sipping, 
And dews are softly dripping. 
And happy hours slipping. 

So joyous and so free. 

There would I spend ripe hours 
Amongst thy paramours. 
Mingling with soft-eyed flowers 

Until the sun had set; 
And all the City's madness, 
Its sorrow and its sadness. 
Would change to lasting gladness — 

Could I but then forget ! 

rd join the songs of Even, 
Looking to brighter Heaven, 
And linger in the leaven 
Of quiet and repose; 

[54] 



SONGS OF LIGHT 



I know I should be better 
From turmoil and her fetter, 
If I could quite forget her, 
And all her empty shows. 

And when the hills ceased singing, 
And when the moon in swinging. 
Into her nightly winging 

Illumed each starry vale. 
We'd dream that we were sailing 
With soft airs never failing. 
To sound of lone bewailing. 

Of some far Nightingale. 

Must one for aye continue 
To sweat with bone and sinew. 
Till ardent Death shall win you 

And urge you to his throng! 
Clear Wandering Voice, aspire. 
Burn us with thy bright fire! 
Up higher yet — still higher. 

The beauty of thy song! 



WHEN THE HILLS ARE IN SONG 

When the old brown Earth 
To the joy of rebirth 
Upheaves with the seed 
Of Life, great in her girth! 

[55] 



LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 



When the sap runs strong, 
And the hills are in song, 
With Life — the returning 
Of Love and her throng! 

How Laughter goes flinging 
The leaves she is bringing, 
To bind Love, to blind Love, 
To the song she is singing! 

To bind Love, to blind Love, 
Till Life shall but find Love 
All lost in the rose leaves 
Joy hurls from above. 

Then nothing to borrow 
But pleasure. Old Sorrow 
All palsied slow fades. 
With his crowds that on follow. 

Winter, low bending; 
Grief, knowing no ending. 
All bent with sere hollies ; 
And lastly uprending 



The seed-bosomed lands — 
Youth, close with his bands 
Of Revelers, poising 
Their flower-arched hands; 

[56] 



SONGS OF LIGHT 



Blowing and throwing 
Those petals unknowing 
Of Winter, so joyous 
Is Life in the growing. 

With Dance at his heels, 
And Laughter that reels 
Wild music — such pipings 
As Age never feels. 

And Jollity, Mirth, 
With the good brown Earth, 
Who quaffing and laughing 
Urge Love to her birth. 

Urge clear love, and dear love, 
And we that should fear love, 
So short is the Summer 
Of those that are near love. 

Then hear it, nor fear it. 
The song of the Spirit; 
Go find it, go bind it, 
Lest Winter be near it. 

Go deed it thy years. 
Go seed it thy fears, 
Should Summer turn Winter, 
Go deed it thy tears. 

[57] 



LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 



Then scatter Red Roses 

Stained red where Love throws his 

Red lips to the petals 

Of life that uncloses. 

As ever they hover 
From covert to cover, 
Love chasing his fancies 
Through summers of clover. 

Till Age, creeping over. 
Now finds that her lover 
Still craving Red Roses, 
Has sped to another. 

Then sing it, and ring it. 
The Song, as ye bring it, 
From flower and bower. 
And green mountain top. 

'* Make most of the winning! 
If loving be sinning, 
How barren the shuttle 
Must run in Life's spinning! 



" Make most of the singing. 
For Time is a-winging 
And soon will old Autumn 
Sere leaves be a-bringing.'' 

[58] 



SONGS OF LIGHT 



Then sing, sing along, 
How can Love do wrong, 
When Life's in the making. 
And Love's in the song! 



THE REVELERS 

In the heyday of pleasure 
The noonday of life, 

Do not linger nor tarry — 

Go marry, go marry, 
And take thee a wife. 

The dreams thou art chasing 
All soon will be done; 

Soon the flower will sever 

The seed, then forever 
Thy joys will be run. 

The crowds that are passing. 

The Sage and the Fool, 
The Cap and the Bells, 
The laughter, the knells, 
Soon all is forgotten. 

Our sorrows, our pleasures, 

Our joys or our tears. 
Like the mist shall be lost, 
The count and the cost, 

Down the flight of the years. 

[59] 



LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 



Then let us be merry 

And dance with the throng; 
Not caring, not knowing 
Where all we are going, 

Or the strain of the song. 

The Holy, the Scoffer, 

The Wise and the Clown, 
Must at last in one wine 
Find the same anodyne 
To drink the years down. 

Wild Revelers, Revelers, 

Heed not Life's mockery — 
Be merry, be merry. 
And press the red berry 
To the sound of the Sea! 



A SONG FOR THE NAVY 

We are the Pride of Freedom, 

Ours the great heritage! 

The fruits of tears of a thousand years, 

The envy of our age! 

Yet as we leave our home, our town. 

Our land beloved, with hearts on high, 

Oh, let us not each one forget 

The duty that our God hath set! 

But with a contrite heart go down, 

[60] 



1 



SONGS OF LIGHT 



To cry, lads, 

To die, lads, 
For Freedom, for Freedom, 
Glory and Godhead one! 

We are the Lights of Freedom, 

Freedom^s imperious weal; 

As we ride the tides with our awful hides 

Of steel that cannot feel! 

When Faith shall call her Men to die, 

We'll nail the glorious flag on high ; 

Fearing naught but what brave men fear 

Who go out with Death on the falling year; 

As we peer through the smoke to our northern sky, 

To cry, lads. 

To die, lads. 
For Freedom, for Freedom, 
One Victory, one Death! 

We are the strength of Freedom, 

The bulwark of her fame, 

We are the pride of her limitless tide, 

Her fortitude, her fame! 

More wide, more great than ever Rome, 

We'll fling the burning symbols high! 

And fearing but the Invisible Hand 

That guides our hearts, our faith, our land; 

With the blood of the years we will cleave the foam. 

And cry, lads. 

And die, lads. 
For Freedom, for Freedom, 
For nation and for God! 



[6i] 



LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 



We are the hope of Freedom; 

Ours is the destined name; 

We are the lords of the hideous hordes 

That sweep the seas with their furious flame, 

Lunging, plunging, groping, sighing, 

Over the deeps as we ever roam. 

Like a great live thing that heaves and groans 

Feeding away on the fiery stones! 

Fighting away for the dear ones home — 

Dying, lads. 

Crying, lads. 
For Freedom, for Freedom, 
For Liberty, and Light! 

We are the blood of Freedom, 

We are the sweat and bone, 

We are the seed of Freedom's need. 

Who utter never a groan 

For the blood of that faith we consecrate. 

For the hopes of the heart we crucify! 

Fearing naught but what brave men feel 

Who go down to the seas in things of steel; 

Their hope with God, their Souls with fate; 

Crying, lads. 

Dying, lads. 
For Freedom, for Freedom, 
One Union and one State! 



We are the Men of Freedom, 

Yet let us not forget. 

Ours is the Sign of a shadowy Line, 

[62] 



SONGS OF LIGHT 



The seal by glory set! 
Unguarded fame at most is brief; 
New men arise, new symbols flying! 
So let us but will to new alien hordes, 
The keener steel, the mightier swords, 
And to new years new laurels bequeath! 

Crying, lads, 

Dying, lads. 
For Freedom, for Freedom, 
For Glory and for God I 

We are the strain of the Saxon, 

The glory of our land ! 

Within our blood ten thousand stood. 

Ten thousand more at hand. 

When our race went forth to win or die. 

On perilous seas in the years gone by. 

We are the breed of a fearful strain. 

And the Dead to our Song shall uprise again. 

When the furious streams of our fires fly! 

When we cry, lads. 

When we die, lads. 
For Freedom, for Freedom, 
For Victory or Death! 

We are the pride of Freedom, 

Ours the great heritage! 

The fruits of tears of a thousand years. 

The envy of our age! 

Yet as we leave our home, our town. 

Our land beloved, with hearts on vhigh, 

[63] 



ii 



(^ 



LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 



Oh, let us not each one forget 
The duty that our God hath set! 
But with a contrite heart go down, 

To cry, lads. 

To die, lads. 
For Freedom, for Freedom, 
Glory and Godhead, one. 

Chorus : 

Yes, when all things shall be forgot. 

In the terrible crash of the enemies' shot. 

As we see them go under, 

With curses and thunder. 

From the mouths of our iron that cannot feel ; 

When that Myriad Throng 

Shall uprise to our song. 

From the souls of our Dead that have passed along; 

How well fight, lads. 

Through the Night, lads. 

To the crunch of the steel. 

And the whirl of the wheel! 

As the sparks upfly to the sky, lads. 

For Freedom, for Freedom, 

For Glory and for God ! 



[64] 



SONGS OF LIGHT 



THE CALL OF THE WILD 

Oh, I feel it and I hear it — the cry of the West 
Like a fire in my veins, like a battle in my breast; 
The Call of the Wild ! Let us on, for it is late, 
To those mountains and those shores where the great 
tides wait. 

Let us on, let us on, over mountains, over wood, 
For I feel it in my pulse and I feel it in my blood ; 
Where it throbs, where it sobs, where it trembles to be 

free ; 
As the clouds within a tempest, as the waves upon the 

sea. 

Where it throbs, where it sobs, " You are one, you're 

the same. 
You, the echo of the Wild, that was lost to our name, 
In the changing of the Years, yet of Nature you're 

the child ; 
Then back but for a little time, back to the Wild ! " 

Back but for a little time, back to the soil. 

Cast away your vain things, come away from toil ! 

Hear the Forest Voices, calling from the light; 

" Welcome back, my little one, welcome home to-night. 

[65] 



LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 



'^ Eons seem a day to us — you it is that change; 
You have quite forgotten us, sad and so strange ! 
Welcome to our hills again, welcome to our streams, 
Let us, for this one night, dream old dreams. 

" Dance us from the great World, sing our happy song; 
Primal things are true things, join our circling throng, 
Round and round forever, drinking freer birth. 
We it is that never change, Children of the Earth ! " 

Oh, I feel it, I hear it — the Call of the Plains, 
Like a burning in my breast, like a fire in my veins; 
*^ Primal Love is true Love, free the welling flood ! " 
It^s the cry of the Race — the battle of the blood ! 



A SUMMER'S PHANTASY 

Beauty walked forth upon the moonlight sea, 

And when the stars arose. 

Sprinkled with myrrh, and rose 
The waning shafts of daylight's western streams, 

Yet not alone she went to free 

Music from Love's eternity. 

But other forms increasing Night still brought. 

As each within their mist 

The dreamer's eyelids kist, 
To vanish like a phantasy of light. 

Till Fancy from her rainbows caught 

Color, for each new imaged thought. 

[66] 



SONGS OF LIGHT 



Oh, Music, Motion, Light and Ye who still 

The mysteries of Night 

With soft enduring light, 
Bright as the heavenly clouds that round us fall, ij 

And Thou, fair Evening, soothly fill 

Our fancy with thine ardent quill. 

And let no ruder noise our ears assail 

Than quiet forest eaves. 

Low dripping on the leaves 
Of flowers mingling in their still caress; 

Or some far drifting summer sail 

To sound of soft-voiced Nightingale. 

Come, all ye Spirits from the mountain streams. 

With cymbals softly sound 

The star-encompassed ground. 
Till Beauty's dream inwoven with the stars 

Arises from the moon's bright beams 

In aureoles of encircling dreams. 

Then Fauns and Satyrs from their once green shore 

With shaggy cloven feet 

To music softly sweet 
Shall herald Silenus, tippling on his ass; 

And Bacchus, Bacchus evermore 

Gathering at hand his merry store. 

While well plumped children clap their rosy hands, 
Riding the sluggish beasts. 
Undaunted, to the feasts 

[67] 



LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 



Which wait upon Diana's rising car, 

Enwreathed with pearl and blushing bands 
Of coral, from far Indes lands. 

As goat-clad shepherds sitting on the rocks 

Urging on pipe and flutes 

Mirth, and that song that suits 
The rustic swains returning with their flocks, 

Shall join beneath the mystic moon 

Love, laughter, dance, and wild bassoon. 

Then will the seasons with their own portent — 

Spring and her quietness. 

Then Summer's gayer dress, 
And Autumn, wreathed with lush fulfilled desires, 

E'en Winter in his cerements, 

Be welcomed to the festal tents. 

First, with her sweet delusive dreams, shall Spring 

Forego our wintry birth 

With jollity and mirth. 
And wed us to elusive Pleasure's hopes; 

When tripping maidens in a ring 

Welcome and kiss each pretty thing. 

Then to the Summer must we pass our dream; 

Ah, may she gently heap 

Lightly upon our sleep 
Music that softer falls than falling rain ; 

That as we go all things may seem 

Ripe, for the soft Autumnal dream. 

[68] 



SONGS OF LIGHT 



And let red apples fall about our head, 

While Autumn's mellowness 

In bright expectant dress 
Welcomes the issue of her fruitful prime; 

And let pale dreams around us tread 

With rose leaves from the Summer's dead. 

Then to the Winter must we needs repair; 

And to his Melancholies 

Commend him to our follies, 
Reaped from the sorry harvest of the year; 

Yet not alone we'll greet him there, 

Amid the snows and the wintry air. 

But lastly let such phantasies of name, 

Such gossamers of thought 

As Hyacinthus wrought 
From Color, Music, Light and unheard sound. 

Unseen, commingling with our frame 

Pass, like imagined shafts of flame. 



A SONG TO BEAUTY 

Beauty, thine empire is supreme! 

No other blooms or blossoms would I own, 

But where are sown 
Thy lasting seeds, there would I dream 
Like one who in a raptured ecstasy 

[69] 



LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 



Cools his deep passion by Love's endless stream, 

And on the sun-warmed grass, entranced alone. 

Strikes his gold lyre to the sounding sea. 

The wind which sweeps thy verdant hills 

And through thy trees luxuriant in their leaf, 

Bestirs that brief 
Sweet murmur, like to Summer rills. 

Gladdening their cresses as they glide along 
Through glooms of beryl leafiness, distills 
Her lyric strain till joy is past belief, 

And all thy woods glow with her deathless song. 

Yet here, alas! our lyres are dead! 

Those throngs that sang upon thy once famed shore 

Now are no more! 
Voiceless and mute, their glory long since shed. 

They come, midst withering leaves, unsought, alone, 
Like ghosts that knock all hopeless on our door; 
Till now, unheard, they fade, — now are they fled, 

Into the Hours upon the Midnight's moan. 

Oh, for some Orpheus to fling 

Music, awakening in Athenian song! 

Some harp among 
Earth's holy dead; that once more they might bring 

Song to our land. Dreams from our wintry tears! 
To bear thee garlands, flowers of loveliest Spring, 
And charm to pipes again that Phantom Throng 

Too oft unseen, in these our songless years! 

[70] 



PART II 
SONGS OF THE EVENTIDE 



1 



A SUPPLICATION 

Now be the hour of prayer, Lord God of hosts ; 
Oh, let us not 
Our vows, our heritage recant! 
But kneeling, with a heart devoid of boasts, 
Receive us. Lord, thine humbled supplicants; 
Lest virtue be forgot. 

Let not our courage fail, now Night has spun 
The wavering light; 
But let us on, nor count the cost; 
Awaiting in our faith the rising sun! 

Vouchsafe us this. Great Lord, or all is lost, 
Be with us in our night! 

Now that the melancholy hours attend 
Our common land. 
To all our hills and quiet streams, 
In primal things thine invocation send; 

That we may live within our Sires' dreams; 
Lest envy guide our hand. 

Let not traditions that have fed our line, 
The laws that made 
Us what we were and what we are. 
Pass with the dusky throngs of night's decline; 
But let their vows be our one Pilot Star; 
We perish should they fade! 

[73] 



LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 



Let Right and Virtue be our attitude ; 
Let us but stand 
In rustic strength, in valor free ; 
In peace of commerce first ; in battle rude ; 
• Let Art progress, yet let not luxury be 
A canker to our land. 

Let us incline in charity to all; 
Communing, Lord, 
With contrite hearts; but should we feel 
Unrighteous battle on our country fall. 
Oh, let us then, with souls of primal steel 
Resent the evil horde! 

Hear us, now night makes one of land and sea. 
Invoke Thy rod 
To light us on midst glooms and fears. 
Where wait the great Invisible To Be, 
Upon the margin of the endless years; 
Hear us, O Thou our God ! 

Ours be the land of fructifying fruits! 
The virile tree 
From whose green boughs no barren flower 
Shall wreathe the idle songs of Lydian flutes; 
But Justice our great God, and Nature our 
Nativity. 

Lend us the strength of all that shadowy line, 
The hardier breed. 
Which first did people these our fields 

[74] 



SONGS OF THE EVENTIDE 



From that bold stock which cherished no vain sign ; 
That long our lands may flourish in their yields 
Of fruitful seed. 

Let not our aims decline as years revolve, 
Nor avarice 
A menace to our liberty; 
Lest we like Rome shall of our weal dissolve ! 
But let first things our benediction be, 
And Strength our sacrifice! 

Though we are blind and know not what we are. 
Nor of our cast; 
Nor what dark storms await our coming race; 
This, this we know, we are some rising star! 
Some destined light awaits our final place! 
Night can not ever last. 

Then lead us on through Hopes and Fears, 
From plain and height; 
That we at last may leave the Trail of Dust, 
To mount the summit of perpetual years! 

Grant us but this. Great King, Thou whom we 
trust. 
Our Saviour, Lord of Light! 



[75] 



LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 



THE ULTIMATE 

I bore a Cross through years of pain, 

Silently, invisibly! 
One Winter's night from out the rain. 

Seawards a Voice spake unto me. 

Then silently, invisibly, 

The Stars gave up their beams; 

And all the Shadows met the Sea, 
And all the Sea her Dreams. 

I heard a Voice upon a height, 

Silently, invisibly, 
'' I gave Ye Day, why would Ye Nighj " ! 

Yet all the crowds went laughing by. 

Till a Great Wind began to stir, 

Silently, invisibly. 
And all the lands that ever were 

Gave up their dead, and the wide sea. 



THE VAST LOVE 

My dream outswept its earthly sphere. 

To those invisible fires. 
Where Angels, hearkening to no tear. 

Swept the celestial lyres. 

[76] 



■^^ 



SONGS OF THE EVENTIDE 



Yet was there one (and he was high) 

Of all God's heavenly lot, 
Who sang to that empyrean sky 

Through tears forgotten not. 

For he did sing of the Great Plan, 
And of Death's chastening rod; 

And of Its pain to mortal man, 
And the vast love of God. 

Who through those Worlds that ever roll 

From plain to higher plain. 
Would still the sufferings of the Soul, 

Were pain not worth the pain. 

And as he sang, far up among 

The Stars, all resolute, 
I heard above his trembling song 

The sobbing of a lute. 

Yet not alone I knew his tears 
From his gold lute were swept! 

I heard, below Earth's vaster fears 
I heard — and knew God wept! 



[77] 



LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 



TIME, NOT OF MAN 

Have I been dead a thousand years! 
It seems but as a one night's dream ! 
" A million years would no more seen ' 
Mutter the Winds, and onward stream. 

(And all about the Waters cry: 

** It is not long since Death went by/' 

*' A thousand years," the Waves reply.) 

Have I been dead a thousand years! 
It was but now two Lovers came 
To join as one in Love's sweet name; 
I wonder, is it still the same! 

(O tell me is there yet a dearth 

Of pain and love — or endless birth ! 

Is it yet well with the dear Earth?) 

Have I been dead a thousand years! 
Again afar the Evening Bell; 
Again I hear those Lovers tell 
That of the Earth, yes, all is well ! 

(If love on earth be not forgot 
A Day, a Year, it matters not ; 
At the vast end who cares one jot.) 

[78] 



SONGS OF THE EVENTIDE 



What matters then those thousand years! 
Now Love on Earth be still the same ; 
And Earthly Love be of that flame 
That holds to Earth, no earthly name! 

(" Nothing! " says Wind, whose ways are fleet; 
" Nothing! '' those forms of night repeat, 
And hurry on with phantom feet.) 

And down the line I hear where ran 
The Voice of Things since Time began: 
^"^ Years J measured years, are but of Man; 
Yet Man is not of Time nor Years I ^^ 

(" And yet the span seems long," one sings; 
." Hush, why the Rose,'' cries Summer, " brings 
Her beauty from a million Springs, 
It matters not, a thousand years! ") 

Now all God's things from Land and Deep 
Thus speak, with Christ my Soul I'll keep. 
And turn again to wait, — and sleep. 



NIGHT WILL SOON BE HERE 

Night will soon be here. Love, 

No more weep; 
What is there to fear. Love, — 

Let us sleep ! 

[79] 



LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 



Though the Earth forget us, 

What care we; 
Newer light will let us 

Clearer see. 

Nothing more to fear, Love, 

Fear no more! 
They will soon be here, Love, 

At thy door. 

Death and Love are talking 

In the Night; 
Hush! I hear them walking 

Towards the light. 

Open wide and gladly. 

Let them in; 
Have we not more sadly 

Lived within! 

Some day they will take us 

Far away! 
One day they may wake us — 

Who shall say? 

Yet will Soul cease growing, 

All be past, 
When beyond the knowing 

We are cast! 

[80] 



SONGS OF THE EVENTIDE 



To the Soul, ascending 

In God's light, 
Death is not an ending 

But a night. 

Nor this Life to any 

But a door; 
Who shall say the many. 

Many more! 

Seems that we have met. Love, 

In old years; 
Dreams so soon forget, Love, 

Of their tears. 

Often when weVe walked here, 

By this shore. 
Seems as if we'd talked here. 

Years before. 

Whispered to you, dreaming. 

Love's dear ways; 
Was it all a seeming, 

Those dim days! 

Days, when no dark showers 

Hid the Sun; 
Days when all was ours, 

Life begun. 

[8i3 



LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 



Till Years came and looked in! 

Then we knew, 
That within our garden 

Others grew. 

Others than those flowers 

We did deem, 
Fed but in the hours 

Of Love's dream. 

Yet for that our meeting. 

Later grief 
Fades — time is so fleeting. 

Night so brief. 

No more let us wait, Love, 

Daylight done, 
Light is growing late. Love, 

Let us on. 

Hark ! What voice is wakening 

In the skies. 
What new winds, forsakening 

Earth, arise! 

Through the Nightfall muttering 

Like a grief, 
On the breezes fluttering 

Leaf to leaf. 

[82] 



SONGS OF THE EVENTIDE 



Heed not of the crying, 

Only give! 
Living, we are dying, 

Dying, live! 

Come, perhaps they need us 

Past the Bars; 
Love like ours shall lead us 

Through the Stars. 

Surely the high altar 

Of the Soul 
We shall gain, nor falter 

Paying toll. 

Let us on then bringing 

Wreaths of tears; 
Hush! I hear a singing 

Dovi^n the years. 

Here the Angels rending 

Paeons of song; 
Yet, dear, some are bending 

Earthwards, long. 

Some there yet are keeping 

Vigils vain. 
For a heart still weeping 

Earthly pain. 

[83] 



LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 



Yet so great our love is 

That our dream, 
Which with God above is 

Shall redeem. 

Surely, then, they'll call us, 

There to be 
One with that vast Chorus 

Thee, and Me! 

Night will soon be here, Love, 

No more weep; 
Nothing more to fear. Love — 

Let us sleep! 



MORTALITY 

I dreamed that I did He beside 
A thing of Earth, and it had died. 
Along the sands the wild seas cried. 

I knew that it was noon, and yet 
High in the night the stars were set! 
O God to live, and yet forget! 

To dream, to curse, to live, to cry 

For Phantoms that have long passed by- 

Let me forget, or let me die! 

[84] 



SONGS OF THE EVENTIDE 



Let me not hear the bells of mirth ; 
Here where I long for a newer birth, 
Here where I wait for the bosomed earth. 

" But let me know that all my fears," 
Love cries, " like mist and long wept tears, 
Shall fade as loom the new born years." 

And then again with her I dreamed! 

Before a muteless sea I seemed, 

That vague and boundless onward streamed. 

And sadly, as when shadows rise, 
And bolder hope of daylight dies, 
I bent in tears to kiss her eyes. 

I strove to feel the mass of hair. 

And the white rose that I placed there; 

Nothing — the rain all bleak and bare ! 

I strove to hear that song which was 
The first faint strain that love did pass ; — 
Only the night wind through the grass! 

I strove to feel where love had let 
Warm lips now wan their signet set; 
Only the sea-shells cold and wet! 

Still yet I strove to hear some song; 

'' Perhaps," Hope said, ** she sings among 

God's Choiristers " — I waited long! 

[85] 



LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 



I waited for some sign again, 
I waited till once more the rain 
Beat in my face with bitter pain. 

And all I felt — the utter night ; 
And all I saw — a realmless height ; 
And all I heard — waves breaking white. 

Thus through the night I hearkening sat, 
The wind-pierced reeds my humble mat; 
Only the lone wind — only that ! 

Only the sea mist sweeping by. 
Only the far waves' cheerless cry; 
Only the things that cannot die! 

Till now they swept far out to sea; 
And each small star all fearfully 
Passed to the things which are to be. 

Eastward I saw the Morning rise, 
I saw her beams within the skies; 
Yet not her light within my eyes. 

I felt again the morning shower 
Revive the roses' priceless dower; 
Yet not for me one small bright flower. 

Not, not for me or for that throng 
The Dead in Heart, that passed along; 
The Living Dead ten thousand strong. 

[86] 



SONGS OF THE EVENTIDE 



And then I heard a murmuring wide, 
A wail, an ebbing chant that died, 
Upon the shores, along the tide: 

" O God, may we then never see 
Beyond the Waters — Death but free 
The veil of life-drawn mystery! 

"Hope, idle hope, ah, what is it! 
A Lorelei the Dead admit. 
When life is gone and candles lit. 

" Our Love is gone into the night; 
Should it return, O God, it might 
Come with a strange unknown light! 

"What is a Hope tomorrow born! 
The Form we loved, that Form is gone. 
Then lure us not with Songs of Dawn. 

" Let others hope and drink their fill. 
What if there be a meeting, will 
The lips we knew be aught but still ? 

" Let Time and Heavenly Will transform 
The face, the arms, the breasts once warm, 
Think you that zve shall know the form! 

" Sweet Earthly Dream, more sweet for sin, 
To think that Love may never win 
Again thy mouth, and enter in! 

[87] 



LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 



'' Spring comes again in new attire, 
The leaf does change to brighter fire, 
Yet O the love, the old desire! 

" Gone is the voice, gone words and all. 
And through our hearts the wild winds call, 
And round our dreams the dead leaves fall. 

" Here where we ever searching, stand, 

A stranger to the Inner Band, 

Here by this w^ave worn shadow-land. 

*^ Here where we plead, entreat, implore. 
Yet look and look forevermore 
Out from the same receding shore. 



" Unto the Edge — to vainly hope. 
Into the dark — to blindly grope. 
Into the mist's enduring slope. 

" Only to feel that thing that is — 
Death — and the depth of the abyss, 
O God, the hopelessness of this! " 



THE HOUSE OF SIN 

I came unto a house whose door 
Was open wide to Walking Sin; 
I met the Devil there within. 

Laughing, he pointed, — nothing more. 

[88] 



SONGS OF THE EVENTIDE 



Up from the soul of the blinding mass, 
Up from the heart of the City's dead, 
Singly she came to break the bread 

Of empty joy, to drain the glass. 

I called her by her once sweet name, 

She heeded not, but entered in. 

Then shrilly leapt the violin, 
Till all the house lit up with flame. 

A thousand souls, a thousand lights, 
Fettered as one with brazen bands; 
The Devil he smiled and rubbed his hands; 

" These are indeed most joyous nights." 

This is indeed a fruitful year. 

When Priest and Devil still walk abroad. 
Each with an eye to the richest horde! 

Chastity feigning the contrite tear. 

Will nobody come to seek the Child, 

Nobody seem to care save Him; 

Without the lights grow small and dim. 
Within a revelry more wild. 

As through the half-drawn shutters fly 
Convulsive shadows round on round; 
The wine is drunk, the dregs are found. 

The Devil he smiles — I wonder why! 



[89] 



LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 



The sun is high, the moving mass 
Of painted fashion smiles and bows; 
Vain hypocrites whose haughty brows 

Conceal but hearts of withered grass. 

Up through the streets they stately move, 
To liveries of brass and gold; 
A little bird could haply hold 

More than they know of selfless love. 

For public charities behold 

How open is their cherished purse; 

In high esteem the Churches nurse 
Such patrons, though their faith be sold. 

They buy their crowns for cash, receive 
Forgiveness with a cushioned seat. 
Nor look for Christ in those they meet 

Whose outward gold has chanced to rust. 

Nor here within this stricken thing, 
That passes by, so young, so fair; 
For she has sinned and so must bear 

The curses which mock virtue bring. 

For she has erred in outward sin! 
(No sin they deem if one's discreet) 
And now must ever through the street 

Pass, for the doors are locked within. 

[90] 



SONGS OF THE EVENTIDE 



Bending her steps where others trod, 
She wanders onward and is gone; 
Unnoticed plies her way alone, 

Seeming unloved by man or God. 

Who was it threw the loaded dice! 

Will nobody lend a lifting hand! 

The name rings false, ^' A Christian Land," 
Whose altars claim such sacrifice! 

A voice cries out: "The play is false! " 
Fashion replies: " 'Tis time to dine!" 
Again the lights, again the wine, 

Again the devil and his waltz. 

Will nobody lend a lifting word! 

What is below the tinsel there! 

Who knows a heart how sore and bare! 
God knows — and he alone has heard. 

And every door is locked without, 

As every door is barred within! 

For less forgiving holds God sin 
In those who shout their creeds about. 



The stars are high. By all forsook, 
A hopeless shape counts not the cost, 
But passes out — a Soul is lost. 

Nor comes from heaven one word, one look. 

[91] 



LIGHTS AND SHADOWS \\ 

Thus still they go, and still they ply 

Past Churches barred with narrow creeds, 
And fatted priests who tell their beads — 

The Devil he laughs, I wonder why! 

Oh you who fear sometime to soil 

Your hands by touching chasteless sin, 

Think you, you hold not worse within 
Than this poor child of loveless toil. 

Think you, the Churches or the part 

You pay to heaven with your ill gold, 

Is worth one Cast in God's own mould! 
Where is the Christ within your heart? 



EARTHhFREE 

Now falls the dusk from tree to tree, 
Now comes the Evening unto me. 

Now fails the twilight, now the sea. 
Now steals the starlight over me. 

Now fades the casement, now the lea. 
Now melt the shadows into me. 

Now is it night. Now all is free. 
Even to God — to even me ! 

[92] 



I 



SONGS OF THE EVENTIDE 



DREAM-SPIRITS 

Spirits of the shadow, strew 

Over her lightly, 
Moonbeams of the lightest hue, 
Ever so brightly. 

Calm as waters stilled at night. 
Waft her on thy wings of light; 
Over clouds that are flying, 
On lights that are lying. 
Dying, dying. 

Softly, Spirits, wake her not. 

Light be thy keeping; 
Time and Grief soon are forgot — 
Peacefully sleeping! 

Gently, Shadows, shade her eyes; 
Come, sweet Spirits, let us rise 
By lights that are streaming. 
With stars that are gleaming. 
Dreaming, dreaming. 

Out of Chaos her Soul is thrown. 

Hither she knows not; 
Out of her breath our dreams arc blown. 

Whither she knows not; 

[93] 



LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 



Ever onward sped along 

With each new phantastic throng, 

On winds that are blowing 

Mute, and yet knowing — 
Flowing, flowing. 

Weep no more, then weep no more. 

Sleep can but save her! 

Sorrow holds not in her store 

More than she gave her! 

What is Life when Life is grief! 
When Death's the Friend and Life's the thief - 
Poor Life, that can borrow 
But this from the morrow — 
Sorrow, sorrow. 



THE WORKER 

Laboring, he toils until the day is done; 

Still, still he sees the same incessant stream; 
The bough will blossom, fruit, and then — 'tis gone. 

And life long past, but one vague lingering dream. 



HYMN TO EVENING 

High in the Clouds 

Brightly the Evening reposes; 
Glorious Crowds 

Strew her with aureate roses! 

[94] 



SONGS OF THE EVENTIDE 



Cast to her bowers, 

Seraphims, Spirits of Heaven! 
Star-gathered flowers, 

Borne by the Winds of Even. 

Wild are the songs, 

Sweet is the sound of the singing; 
Bright are the throngs, 

Glad IS the time of the bringing. 

Soft as the light 

That over the Evening hovers; 
Milder the white 

Necks of the Clouds that bend over. 

Strewing her eyes 

With dews from the gossamer showers; 
Feeding her sighs 

With tears from the dreams of the hours. 

Thou of the Night, 

Bright is thy beauty ascending; 
Yet brighter the light — 

The Strains of thy Songs never ending! 

1 faint, I fail, 

I die at the edge of the Knowing, 
I knock at thy Pale, 

Yet I know not what Winds there are blowing! 

[95] 



LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 



The Night is upon me, 

I faint, I fall by the River! 
Never more shun me, 

But leave me forever, fornever! 

Spirit of Night 

Upbear me in flames and in fires, 
Vision most bright. 

Let me pass to the songs of thy lyres. 

Down the Great Stream 

My bark from the shore is far driven; 
Oh, linger, thou Dream, 

Till the veil of thy beauty is riven. 

I hear the call — 

I hear the call, and fear it! 
Sustain me — I fall. 

Thou bright, thou glorious Spirit! 



SUNSET 



Full beautiful that Summer's night; 

The Lover's song all flung with flowers; 
And over all the moon full white — 

Wilt thou forget those happy hours? 

[96] 



SONGS OF THE EVENTIDE 



The music of the Nightingale; 

The Dusk and all her Paramours; 
The lazy tides, the little sail; 

Canst thou forget those happy hours? 

When but upon the rose-fed air 

I heard thy song dissolve in showers 

And how we met and lingered there; 
Wilt thou forget those happy hours? 

Wilt thou forget how life then seemed 
All shafts of flame and sunlight towers! 

Till at the Daybreak we but deemed 
All ours, in those. Earth's earliest hours. 

Yet would'st thou change though tears have turned 

To stain of fires of deeper power, 
That Dawn, for Day, now redder burned, 

In this, Love's last, yet ripest hour! 



AT THE EVENTIDE 

Long fields of barley, ripe with yellowing grain, 
Stained with red poppies red as blood is red. 
Midst Summer's lush fulfillment, where has lain 
Last Autumn's leaves, their beauty long since fled; 
And low faint mists where linger Memory's Dead 
Ah, Life how sweet it is 
When days have come to this! 

[97] 



LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 



And golden trees hung full with turning seed, 
Where lovers, lingering in the sinking sun. 
Stain lips more red on fruits that redder bleed 
For newer years — those years that love hath won, 
Though in the fruit, seeming, hath Death begun; 
Ah, Life how sweet it is 
When days have come to this! 

And one wide open sea, indefinite! 

And fading song and ships slow gliding out; 
And gathering mists, and slow down drooping light; 
As sinks the City's cry, the tumult's shout! 
And now the Night and silence all about! 
Ah, Life how sweet it is 
When days have come to this ! 

And two vague Rivers joining in one flood; 

The death of one which is the other's breath ; 
And from them both the same resistless blood; 
Reanimate, the same undying death! 
And far faint immemorial winds that saith: 
Ah, Life full sweet it is 
Now days have come to this! 

And wide still spaces of unchanging night; 

Tall Cypress, dark, waveless by silent streams; 
And lilies cold and white, oh, strangely white ! 
And Nightingales, where some old castle gleams 
Pale to the moon, the time of endless dreams; 
Ah, Life how sweet it is 
When days have come to this! 

[98] 



J 



SONGS OF THE EVENTIDE 



NOVEMBER 

And the soughing winds and the beating rain 
Was all that he heard in the outer night! 

All that he heard was the same refrain, 

The soughing winds and the beating rain! 

And he thought of those who long had lain 
Deep in that sleep where there is no light, 

But the soughing winds and the beating rain 
Was all that he heard in the outer night. 



A PRAYER AT THE END OF THINGS 

Lord of the Universal Throng, 

Soul of the every sphere. 
Hear, like the winds, my crying song; 

God of my Being, hear! 

I fear for what I am, the dust 
Of Night is heavy on my lips; 

Yet now if ever must I trust, 
Now that the daylight slips. 

This morning was I strong with hope ; 

Tonight I fail with trembling fear; 
I feel the shadows towards me slope, 

I feel the darkness near, 

[99] 



LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 



Before the waning light I kneel, 

I cannot see now very far; 
Misgiving comes with firmer heel 

To try my prison bar. 

The clearest stars of light depart, 

I hear the far encroaching sea. 
Concede, Lord, courage to my heart, 

That I may follow thee. 

Am I the whole or but a link. 

To be again or not to be! 
Trembling I stand upon the brink; 

Lord God, be one with me. 

Whatever holds the Stars, resigned 

Unto the Night, let me be now. 
See how my cheeks with tears are lined, 

And dew is on my brow. 

O God, have mercy on my plight ; 

See how my lips grow thin with cold ; 
Have I not suffered much tonight? 

Grant me the faith of old! 

Grant me a word. I will not ask 

The why and whence each wind is blown; 

For I am weary now, the mask. 
Mortality, weighs down. 

[lOO] 



SONGS OF THE EVENTIDE 



Tonight somehow my little bark 
Seems driven far from every shore; 

Call me and lead me through the dark; 
Lead, and I ask no more. 

Last night my faith said unto me: 
** I knocked, and He did hear me not, 

And yet I knew^ Him once; has he 
My utter self forgot?" 

And then unto the hills I went, 
Unto Thy hills with lightless eyes, 

And many hours of anguish spent, 
Questioning, beneath the skies. 

I saw the earthly pain of Soul, 

That misty line of Life earth-chained; 

"And is it all but for Death's toll," 
I cried, ** Is nothing gained?" 

I heard the timeless Worlds that move, 
I saw the endless chain of Man, 

I felt the sacrifice, the love. 
Boundless since time began. 

And then I knew that there must be 
Somewhere a Maker's hand to cast, 

I looked and nothing saw but Thee, 
Infinite, spaceless, vast! 

[lOl] 



LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 



Now am I ready, Lord, sustain 

My every hope through failing power; 

I question not the loss or gain, 
Enough unto the hour. 

My faith unto thine Hand is set; 

Mine be the heart resigned to fate. 
Lord God of All, maintain me yet; 

Lead on, Lead on! I wait. 



THE WAIF 

^Why was this child of man 
Struck from the list? 
Is he not missed; 

Where is his guardian? 
Has he no Christ? 



Out in the Christmas night. 
One of God^s own. 
Deserted, alone; 

Pity his lonely plight, 
Turn not to stone! 



[102] 



SONGS OF THE EVENTIDE 



Robbed of all small delights, 
See how he stands there, 
Out in the Wintry air, 

Under the City's lights, 
Under the glare. 

Lost in the hurrying throng, 

Nothing to spend, 

Nothing to lend; 
Oh, how the Child must long. 

Sigh for a friend. 

How can he feign to sing! 

No one to cry to. 

No one to sigh to. 
No little cheerful thing. 

Nothing that's true. 

Only the mild stars shine 

Cold in the sky. 

So far and so high; 
Only the countless line. 

Passing him by. 

Only the bells of night. 
Swelling their song 
Past the great throng; 

Each with their joys bedight. 
Rushing along. 

[103] 



.^^ 



LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 



Up through the crowded street, 

See how they shiver! 

Did you see ever 
Such a mad rush of feet, 

Pitying never! 

Clothed in Life's banities, 

See how they ride! 

Naught by their side. 
But the cold vanities, 

Riches, and Pride. 

Oh, what a travesty, 

Nothing to fear, 

Nothing too dear. 
Yet for kind charity, 

Not even one tear! 

With just a grand look at him, 

Sitting alone. 

White on the stone — 
Poor little waif, so slim. 

Ashes, and bone! 

Just a small glance as they 

Enter God's place; 

One of a race. 
Who through their riches may 

Sin in full grace. 

[104] 



SONGS OF THE EVENTIDE 



Just a down look as they 

Enter within, 

To soft violin; 
There where their riches may 

Cleanse them of sin. 

Out of the churches^ door 

See how they come; 

Mild eyed are some, 
Yet not a smile for poor 

Wretches who roam. 

Haughty in power, free, 

Fatted and sleek, 

Purpled in sheek, 
Yet not a thought for the 

Meek or the weak. 

Yet why should they think of him, 

But one of God's all. 

What though he fall! 
To sounds of wild seraphim, 

Still and so small! 

Then sing out most merrily! 

Cheeks that are thin 

Hungry with sin. 
Away from their revelry 

Dance enter in! 

[105] 



LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 



Dance, let them crown thee now; 

Life is most jolly; 

Mistletoe, Holly, 
Let them but deck thy brow; 

Life's but a folly! 

Toss high the Lydian Wine; 

Here's to their throng 

Passing along. 
Singing, though Day decline; 

Here's to the Song! 

Here's to it merrily ! 

Cheeks that are thin. 

Pain that is sin. 
Away from their revelry — 

Mirth, enter in! 

What though the low winds moan 
Up from Night's streams; 
There where he seems 

Part of the Winter's own, 
There where he dreams. 

There where he lingers still, 

One of God's known. 

Deserted, alone! 
Poor little Waif, so ill. 

Ashes and bone. 

[io6] 



SONGS OF THE EVENTIDE 



There where the rattling sleet, 

Whirling, forlorn, 

Curling upborne; 
Rushing with phantom feet — 

Comes and is gone! 

Lost to the bitter snows, 
Past the great crowd. 
White as a shroud. 

See how the whirlwind goes, 
Melts like a cloud. 

Back to the frozen sods. 

Shrouded in white, 

Failed of the Light! 
Only a soul of God's, 

Lost to the night! 



Why was this child of man 
Struck from the list? 
Is he not missed? 

Where is his guardian? 
Had he no Christ? 



[107] 



LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 



BRIEF IS THE NIGHT 

This is thine hour, O Soul! 
Into the heart of the whole, — 

Out from the helmless 

Into the realmless 
Shadows unroll. 

Now are the stars of white light, 
Bright in their ultimate height. 
Then courage, O Breath, 
Though the journey be Death — 
Short is the Night! 



LOVE LIVES ANEW 

And now the full sad hour! Down melting hills 
Go forth day's Acolytes in dusky throngs; 

As Eve, with ever tender finger, stills 

The various sounds of Daylight's harsher songs. 

The going forth, the passing of the prime, 

The holy hour when Nature stays her breath; 

The fading, the Recessional of Time, 

The universal change of Life and Death! 

[io8] 



SONGS OF THE EVENTIDE 



And now the Dreams, the Hour! of Light, 

A hymn of Earth's last sacrifices sing; 
And now upon the altar of the night, 

The Stars! bright symbols of the offering. 

As far below, among the rising lights. 

The Vesper tells the time of common prayer, 

Midst ruddy youth, and those of many nights, 
And those forgotten and long sleeping there. 

Who once on earth did breathe the same sweet air. 
And loved as mad upon the Summer's prime! 

With eyes as bright and cheeks as youthly fair; 
Yet what avails them now the June's full time! 

What songs and tender passion long forgot 

May not have flamed more brightly their life-loom! 

Through these same fields what strain of love may not 
Have urged the reddest rose to redder bloom! 

In that forgotten spot what have you there. 

What flame of life, unheeded, flickering died; 
What sad love legends may perhaps not share 

Those two green graves, long mouldering side by side! 
» 
Ah! Yes, I see them pass the gathering shade. 

The same June moon, the same full golden glow; 
As down the years with other hosts they fade. 

Two lovers that did love — long, long ago. 

[109] 



LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 



A Youth in prime of sinewy beauty, he 

Oft for the primal earth would shun the crowds; 

While she a child of nature, wild and free 

As wind-borne skylarks mounting to the clouds. 

How many times these hedgerows growing here 
Closed round them in the warmth of that far June, 

Till April seemed but in perpetual year! 

But this, like all dreams, past — too soon, too soon. 

For it is told — that venerable man 

That goes with age across green yonder lawn 

Did hear it from his sires — how there ran 

From foreign lands the cry for strength and brawn. 

And hoVv one evening, when the first small stars 
Urged the home shepherds by the common lane; 

He left the rustic life for alien wars; 

She watching by the roadside, but in vain. 

Till winters passed and summers came, and she 
Full barren in her soul, like something wild 

Died, with the harvest^s song. Look! yonder tree 
Seems greener for the death of this rude child. 

And as from spring to spring it spread its leaves 
In lovelier blossoms, here beneath these boughs 

Lovers would come to moan their twilight hours. 
And May-Queens in the May to deck their brows. 

[no] 



SONGS OF THE EVENTIDE 



And oft at night, they say (but let that pass, 

Such mystic shadows throws the midnight moon) 

Beneath its leaves a figure on the grass 

Sat weeping and low singing a strange tune. 

Until at last, the years were many, yet not many, 
Dying they brought him home across the sea; 

Here by these leaves they laid him down — nor any 
Cold marbles rave, but this full sheltering tree. 

But why speak of these things ! Springs bloom again ; 

A newer race holds legends of their own. 
Why think of them? What if their roses stain 

By desert winds into old seas were blown? 

Who cares for old dreams now? Yet I could tell — 
But let that pass; enough our glorious sun. 

That brightens this our day; the Vesper Bell 
Is well enough for those whose work is done. 



SHADOWS 

Far out, what time the last lights dip, 
Above the mists I saw a ship; 
Yet, when I looked again to sea. 
Nothing but dim eternity. 



[Ill] 



LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 



Above the mists, far up above, 
I saw the brow of my true Love! 
I looked again, yet O Despair! 
Only the cold stars lingered there. 

O Ship, I wonder to what shore 
Your sails were set, what songs you bore ! 
Or were you destined but to free 
Souls to a wider mystery! 

O Thou who from the clouds above, 
Lured me with hopes of nearer Love, 
Oh, tell me, shall there never be 
Freedom from Life's uncertainty? 



TWILIGHT 

Come, bind my brows with amber leaves. 

And let there be no sad lament, 
When at the last the Winter wreathes 

Her cerement 
Of purple mists, that curl and close 
Over the dreams the twilight throws 
Into that void which no man knows; 
That night whence all are sent. 



[112] 



SONGS OF THE EVENTIDE 



For I have heard a wild thing call, 

Far in the forest deep and still; 
And I have seen the last leaf fall 

By the wintry rill; 
Now all my pipes are stopped with dust, 
Now all my dreams, that I did trust. 
Are changed like leaves to wintry rust 
That hang the russet hill. 

Let others chase the airy dreams. 

Those phantoms that their follies lend. 
By summer seas or bitter streams; 

For me O land 
Those melancholy waters strange. 
Where clouds of earth no more may range, 
Beneath a calm that cannot change, 
A peace that cannot end. 



THE SEA CHANGE 

The finger of the night is on her brow, 

And the white sea mist through her hair is spun; 

She sleeps, ah ! may she sleep as she is now 
Unbidden to the light of each new sun. 

Now hers the filmy pearls, the wave-green skies. 
And those far seas, that sea which round her keeps 

A holy place for glooms and mysteries — 

That sea beyond all seas wherein she sleeps. 

[113] 



LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 



That sea wherein we image our wished dreams; 

Dreams melting down to one beyond the brink; 
And who shall say it is not as we deem, 

And nearer, yes, and nearer, than we think. 

Come, ye sea phantoms! Round her form arrange 
That mist of Mysteries that no eye may see; 

She sleeps! So may she sleep through that sea change, 
That changes time to time's eternity. 

Now hers the scene of spaceless hours, of halls. 

Dark halls that end not through the trembling deeps; 

Forget, forget, the day is late, night falls; 
Yet what is night, to her, — to her who sleeps? 

Who sleeps! O Magic Word transforming all; 

All, all we know or feel, thy mysteries 
Draw round, till Dawn again some day may call 

From some far land, beyond unknown seas. 



THE DIFFERENCE 

If I could smile as others smile, 
Nor question of the final sum ; 

If I could quite forget awhile. 

And pass the time to pipe and drum; 

Then would I be from Reverie free. 

And that, God knows, I would not be. 

[114] 



SONGS OF THE EVENTIDE 



Yet should I weep, should I but weep 
When all the heavens teem with rain; 

When once more to Earth's holy keep 
Dust to the dust is brought again, 

Then would this shell of utter earth, 

This mask, forego its right, rebirth. 

Nay, rather will I weep, when they 
With trivial flowers bind their head ; 

And smile at those whose finite way 
Thinks Summer past is Summer dead! 

Hearing the winds whose words are His: 

Life that it past, is Life that IS! 



DREAMS OF ETERNAL YOUTH 

Dreams of Eternal Youth, in whose sweet name, 
Echoed the woodlands when the Dryads came. 
Laughing, with rose-blown boughs and wreaths of gold. 
To lead the Morning from Night's loveless hold; 
Last night I dreamed of thee, and, dreaming, seemed 
To hold a bowl, whose waters ever teemed 
With wrestling phantoms, mirrored from above; 
Pleasure and Grief, Sorrows, and new-fledged Love, 
Mingling themselves in near community. 
Brightly they glistened, like an aspen tree 
Trembling within the sun her tenderest leaves; 

[IIS] 



LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 



Or when, on still deep waters, Beauty heaves 

To silver ripples her more silvery breath, 

That dies in shadows fairer than fair death. 

Breathing the faintest words that faintest sigh: 

** Waters may flow, the Font yet ever dry! 

I am the Spirit of the Seas and Sky! 

I am the Shadow of those forms that fly 

Earth's changing lights — that live, yet never die." 

Then all my phantoms of the shadowy light 

Passed from my touch in ever speeding flight. 

The more I sought, the faster did they fade 

Into that nothingness whence all is made, 

Till now, the lightness of the day was done, 

And now my Fancies faded one by one; 

And I alone, where falls the sunless streams. 

Looked from the brink upon the old grey years. 

All heaped with dust, where once my love had fed; 

As in my hands I held the Bowl of Tears; 

Only a Bowl of Tears, for Hope had fled. 

Long since, far down the mists, to dream of old dead 



ii 



dreams. 



HOLD FAST, O SOUL 

tlold fast, my Soul, unto the things that are; 

Into Night's arms I pass. Be strong, O hope! 

Now down the hills seawards the shadows slope. 
Now to the dusk glides the first Evening Star. 

[ii6] 



SONGS OF THE EVENTIDE 



Now silhouetted stands the distant pine. 

Earth's murmuring ease — so cease Earth's words to 
me. 

Now fearful pass strange ships far out at sea, 
But fearful not the fears that once were mine! 

Yet ask I not whereto my Spirit glides. 

'Tis night. Enough to let my dreams outflow 
Unto the Earth, knowing where'er they go, 

Through change and change, there the Vast All abides. 



AGE 

Rain, rain, only the dripping of the rain. 
Always the rain, the wind, the same refrain ! 
There, where the faithless embers light his brow 
With scarce a ripple of their dying stain. 

Rain, rain, only the rain! From town and height 
The lamps are streaming, yet there is no light! 
And now he chides the lifeless coals, and now 
Again the shadows, rain and hopeless night! 



CHILDREN OF THE SUN 

Though all things be a-passing. 

To the Years that unroll; 
And the best is at most 

[117] 



X 



LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 



But a grain of the whole, 
Yet the leaves of our labors are moulding 
Souls, that on follow each Soul. 

Though the Harvest may wither, 

And Death be the thief ; 
Yet the fruit it shall turn to 

More glorious leaf! 
I know, for IVe spoken God's waters — 

The Winter of Nightfall is brief! 



Strange hour of Twilight, 

When the dreams of the soul 

Over meadows and mountains 
With vast waters outroU, 

From the scenes of our tangible labors. 
From the heart of the definite whole ! 

How oft have I felt thee! 

Whose sorrowing brings, 
Like the mist to still waters 

Those stiller small wings 
That touch but the ghost of the shadow - 

The shadow that memory flings. 



Time was when the brightest, 

The fairest of skies. 
From the sun-divorced mountains 

[ii8] 



SONGS OF THE EVENTIDE 



And meadows would rise, 
Through the Nights of the Nightfall ensuing, 
Unfettered and keen to the eyes. 

Time was when the fruitage 

That falls from the tree, 
When the vari-hued Autumn 

Calls out to the sea 
That is wild upon desolate mountains, 

Was a glory unbounded and free! 

But now the gold asters 

And flowers whose hue 
From the once open heavens 

Seemed born of that blue. 
Awaken no longer that sunshine 

In darkness, whose sunshine burns true. 

And the yellow leaf branches. 

All burnished and bold. 
Which the days of October 

In bondage must hold, 
Till the Day calleth out from Night's daytime. 

No longer seem vestured in gold. 

But all ashen and sober 

Those leaves now appear; 
Though the gold of the harvest 

Has turned with the year. 
And I hear not the laughter of waters, 

But the falling of leaves that are sere. 

[119] 



LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 



Yet we of the Sorrowful 

Children of Dust, 
Who despair of the dawn 

As all earthly things must, 
Which are cast by the edge of dark waters, 

Shall arise to more glorious trust. 

Though the fruit of our labors, 

The sorrow, the pain. 
Seem lost to the waters. 

They are born not in vain ; 
We the Seed of a Race that forever 

Return to more wonderful strain. 

We the Symbols predestined 

(Evolved from the Night) 
To return and return 

As we strive for the Light; 
Till it flames up the Dreams of the Ages, 

To the throne of the ultimate height. 

We the song before Sunrise, 

Unknowing, yet known. 
To the Stars and their Worlds; 

The strain that was throw^n 
From the lutes of the light-loving Seraphs 

When Night from the Sea was first blown. 

For I know; for IVe tasted 
Those waters of grief, 

[i2o] 



SONGS OF THE EVENTIDE 



Which turn in the night 

To the wine of belief; 
I have spoken God's h'mitless waters — 

The Winter of Nightfall is brief! 



A NOCTURNE 

Stay thou, calm light! 

Strange light that from the lips 

Of beauteous Evening dips 
To limn with vermeil clouds Day's Acolyte; 

Stay, stay, 

Nor haste away 

Until the songs of Even, 

Shall issue forth 

To lovelier worth 

The stars of gentler Heaven. 

Come thou, still sleep! 

Soft sleep, that softer closes 

Our eyelids than the roses 
When gentle winds their gentlest petals sweep; 

Stay, stay. 

Nor haste away 

Until that night be riven 

When to each isle 

Of happier smile 

More glorious song is given. 

[I2l] 



1- 



LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 



THE LAST FLOWERS 

Fair loiterers of Summer how can ye linger here! 

The harvest moon hath fled, 

And Winter from her bed 
Already bends to Autumn's sumptuous bier. 

How can ye stay 

Another day, 

Or are ye some new comer; 
To tempt awhile 
In Beauty's guile, 

The wings of fitful Summer? 

How was it ye escaped the Autumn's share? 

So delicate a flower 

Surely the early plower 
Must scatter as sweet offerings to the air. 

Away, away. 

Nor let your stay 

Fall to the wintry weather ; 

But to the earth 

A richer birth 

Come let us seek together. 

Are ye but some mere flower of joy, or has 

The invisible all 

Some sign of Heaven let fall 
To stay awhile our footsteps as we pass? 

Ah! would that we 

[122] 



I! 



SONGS OF THE EVENTIDE 



Could live with thee 

Through hours which end fornever! 
By greenwood trees 
And purple seas 

And suns that shine forever. 

But hark! A voice into the sunset breathes! 

Already through the trees 

The last Autumnal breeze 
Feeds the rich earth with Summer's gorgeous leaves! 

Oh, let us not 

Then be forgot, 

But to mild wings be taken ! 

Rich offerings 

To fuller Springs, 

When happier suns awaken. 



OH, BLAME ME NOT 

Oh, blame me not if now I smile 

Though Autumn cold be drear with rain! 

Outwards, the lips may laugh awhile. 

Though, inward. Soul be drenched with pain. 

And blame me not if now I weep. 

Though clouds of heaven trail no stain ! 

Only a shadowy dream in sleep; 

Stay, Love! Soon 'twill be light again. 

[123] 



LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 



FLY, SHADOW, FLY 

The stars appear on plain and height, 

The night her winds in leash is holding; 
Seawards now sinks the gull's last flight; 
Dark waves in splendor far are rolling; 
Fly, Shadow, fly, what of the lights low streaming; 
Twilight failing. Ocean murmurs, *^ Dreaming, dream- 
ing, dreaming! " 

I hear a song, 'tis not the sea 

Nor waves on rocks, nor wild foam flying; 
I see a form, and calling me 

I hear a voice that's sighing, sighing: 
** Fly, spirit, fly, free the life- fever burning! " 
Shadow answering Flesh cries: ** Nay, Soul it is that's 
yearning." 

Be still, my heart ! What visions rise. 

Far in the outer seadrift, roaming; 
What sea-wet hair, star pearled, what eyes. 
Rise from those waters, fast and foaming? 
Fly, spirit, fly; what of the shapes that are ranging? 
Shadow answering Mortal crieth : ^' Changing, ever 
changing! " 

[124] 



1 



SONGS OF THE EVENTIDE 



I see vast Peoples on a shore, 

I see a ship with white wings sailing; 
It signals, cries, yet evermore 

Shorewards, they miss the mystic hailing; 
Fly, shadow, fly; what of this ship that is flowing? 
Spirit murmurs, " Love's the wind, blowing, blowing, 
blowing." 

I see it pass at Eventide, 

I see it hasten, halt and quiver, 
I see wan Souls upon its side 

Embark, and drift far down the river; 
Say, Shadow, say, what sail is this unshaking? 
Spirit answers : " Death it is, and Life that's in the 
making.'' 

I bore a torch of wavering light. 

Faith fed the flame, Hope fanned the fire, 
Down through the Valley of the Night, 
From mountain birth to funeral pyre; 
Till '' Fly," I cried, " For Death is overtaking! " 
But Shadow answered: " Courage, thou: Life it is that's 
waking! " 

I bore a rose through all the years, 

Full white it was till Love came hither, 
And stained it red with bitter tears; 
But Love did pass and it did wither; 
Come, Shadow, come, succor the leaves fast falling! 
Spirit cries: '' Nay, bring it thou, — Life, not Death, is 
calling." 

[125] 



LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 



Now sink the hills, the sea line far, 

Night, clouds and ships to one are shading; 
O Love, be thou my guiding Star, 

Else what shall stay the dim lights fading? 
Fly, Shadow, fly, out from a dead world's sowing; 
Life cries: "Peace! Earth's all shall pass to knowing 
from unknowing! " 

The battle cry sinks low, I hear 

Dim clamoring voices calling, calling, 
" What of the Night ! Is there no cheer, 
Here where the rain is ever falling? " 
Fly, Spirit, fly, cleave thine earth shadow. Sorrow; 
Though cloyed with dust, Earth's Blind shall rise, 
Earth's Blind shall see tomorrow. 

Fly, Shadow, fly! Upon the light 

Of dusk I hear a note wide swelling. 
From Sea, from Land, from Heaven's Height, 
From ebbing tides and Ocean welling: 
" Hold fast, O soul, for I am the Fount and the Ending; 
And I am Death, and Life, and Thou, and Soul that is 
ascending." 

Fast falls the Night, dark clouds appear, 

White Sails slip down, the tempest rages; 
With curses, prayers and many a tear 
Again Life shuts the passing pages; 
Fly, Shadow, fly, what though the Life-thread sever! 
" Again through Worlds I'll fear," Soul cries, " Now 
never, forever never! " 

[126] 



SONGS OF THE EVENTIDE 



SONG OF THE NIGHT WIND TO DIANA 

Goddess of Light! Now the Sun last tips 
The waves of the western seas, 
Arise from the beams of thy gilded breeze, 

Quivering with song from thine amber lips. 
Trembling to light the Dreams that share, 
Like Stars, the mists of thy cloudy hair. 

Tonight let our love be leafed in gold, 
From thy lily arms all full with light, 
White, from the love of our passion night! 

Here where I wait in the starlight's fold 
For thy luminous hair, and thy lucent eyes, 
Oh, beautiful wraith, arise, arise! 

Rise up with the forms of the fainting light. 

And bear me a rose all rich and red 

To feed our love till Love's flame be dead ! 
And bear me a lily all cold and white 

When the stars go down on our passion spent. 

And the Moon is our only cerement! 

For here in the throes of a songless land, 
I faint, I fail, though the time be June ; 
And what is the warmth of a Summer's noon, 

If never our songs they can understand ! 

Oh, make me a strain of thy light, thy breath. 
Though the ways of Love be the ways of Death! 

[127] 



LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 



Though the ways of Love be the way that deems 

Death, for the signet of Love's excess, 

Yet bear me away in thy close caress 
To the pale of thy melting dreams! 

Till I pass from the World and her shadowy chase, 

Till I fade from the Night to thy rich embrace. 

Away, away, to that far sea-light. 

In a mist of music, trembling, free. 

Where the starry heights meet the waves of the sea. 
In that realm of song that knows no night ; 

Where the Spirits of Life still sing, among 

The filmy Dreams, Earth's living song! 

For I'm weary of night and of wandering far, 
Bound to the world of the dismal hope. 
And I long for the birth of a freer scope, 

With the longing of Earth for some distant star! 
As the glowing coal for the flame above. 
As the Light of Life for the Loom of Love! 

So bear me a rose all rich and red. 

When the stars go down on our primal night; 

And a cold dim lily all stately white. 
To feed our dreams when Love's light lies shed. 

When the gold leaf falls and the fruit is spent. 

And the Moon is our only cerement ! 



[128] 



SONGS OF THE EVENTIDE 



\ 



SLEEP 

What is Sleep, what is Sleep! 
But a song that is past ; 

But the light that is dimmed 
With a night softly limned 
From the heart of the sun, 
When the day it is done 
At the last! 

But respite from full Sorrow, 
But a rest from the Morrow; 

What is Sleep! 

What is Death, what is Death, 
To the cry of the clay ; 

But that Peace that is sweet; 
But the Sleep that is meet 
As the fall of the leaf ; 
But a Night that is brief 
As the Day ! 

But a Star that is setting, 
For the long, long forgetting, 

What is Death! 



[129] 



LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 



AS WE GO 

As we go, as we go, 

By the edge of the sea, 

Through the storms of the Night, 

How we long for the Light! 

Though the Light it may be 

As the clouds to the free ; 

Indefinite, wild! 

Yet we grope as a Child, 

Not seeing, not knowing 

The winds that are blowing. 

As we go! 

As we go, as we go. 
By the light of a Star, 
How the Songs of the Soul 
With the waters outroU, 
From the waves of the bar 
Intangible, far! 
Through space that is not, 
To Time that^s forgot! 
How it longs to be free, 
By the edge of the Sea, 
As we go! 



[130] 



SONGS OF THE EVENTIDE 



THE PATH OF TEARS 

(An Elegy on the Death of the Crown Prince of 
Portugal,) 

Oh, dry your eyes, such grief can know no tears ! 

Weep, weep no more, though such great primal love 
May find no surcease in the coming years! 

Weep, weep no more! Too far, too far above 
Earth and her Sorrows are those Hosts that move 

Like trails of moon-white clouds, their lightnings shed; 
Slow filing out, from once their nightless grove, 

With songless lips, sad eyes, and silent tread, 

And leaves fast falling sere bound round each sunken 
head. 

Play on, pass on, ye Pipers of all time! 

Softly with strains that to vain tears belong. 
Or music rife with but a fleeting prime; 

What matters now the forms ye pass among; 
For he is dead ! He of the Summer's throng 

Falls ere the opening of the last full leaf. 
And what avails him now your empty song. 

Or what avails him now the seedful sheaf! 

Then pass, pass on ye Crowds, and leave us to our 
grief. 

[131] 



LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 



For he is dead! Light, Air and Ocean, Earth 
And all ye elements that once did bring 

Communion of sweet music to his birth, 
Come away, come away, come hither, sing 

A requiem to the sod, till Night shall fling 
About his brow the mantle of her change! 

And all the Houri of Dreams that cling 
Upon the mists of Sunrise round him range 
In forms of shadowy Phantasies, all sweet yet strange. 

For he is dead! The sun within his eyes 

No more shall light at dawn the accustomed hill; 
No more the song upon his lips shall rise 

To meet the chantings of his favorite rill ; 
For he is dead ! See how he lies all chill. 

Like some white shadowy cloud upon the shore 
Of a strange sea, awaiting Winds that fill 

Tidewards, the Night with forms undreamed before ; 

Clouds that return, alas ! no more, ah ! nevermore. 

Come, all ye Spirits of the Clouds and Streams; 

Not with cold offerings, nor with sage palms dread, 
But starlight boughs quivering to earthly dreams, 

All lovely leaves rising from tears unshed; 
With low bent brows pass round our holy dead; 

For soon, too soon the music of the night 
Shall melt him to those dreams that Day hath fed 

Unto the eyes of Sorrow, now the white 

Faint stars grow full, and all the earth is robbed of 
light. 

[132] 



SONGS OF THE EVENTIDE 



Come, all ye mysteries, ye Heavenly throngs; 

Come, ye Realities in bare leaves dressed; 
Sorrow the pierced of heart, Joy v^ith her songs 

No more of Earth, Ambition sorely pressed ; 
And lastly Love, Love, of the bleeding breast, 

Love vi^ith her tears, for all save these hath died ; 
Love the besought. Love the forsaken guest. 

Ah ! yes, with trailing wing, midst forms that hide 

Too far from tears, I see thee come, all hollow-eyed. 

They say he knew thee not, yet who may guess 
What radiant star within his night did shine! 

They say he sought not Love ; yet who may press 
To deeper stain the vintage of the wine, 

Than he who takes upon the sun's incline 
The grape of Life upon the lips of Youth! 

They say he felt not Grief; yet at what shrine 
Does Sorrow kneel the sweeter in her ruth, 
Than when she wakes through love, strange eyes to 
stranger truth. 

Then round, weave round, ye fair familiar Shades, 
The veil of dreams, thy gossamer of tears ; 

Till far removed from pain, where yet still fades 
Earth's passing shapes, within the bosomed years 

The gradual change will come, and all our fears 
Shall seem as mist far seen at break of dawn. 

Draw round the veil ! Till only Grief appears 
The shadow of herself, and Sorrow, shorn 
Of tears, shall sing again, waking the Day new born. 

[133] 



LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 



But stay! The notes strike false; Summer hath fled! 

What hope of recompense can aid us now ! 
For he is dead ! Our life, our love is dead ! 

No more, no more the warm heart's blood can flow, 
Nor ever Love again upon his brow 

Shall feel the same life pulse she felt before. 
Oh, what avails her now the leafing bough; 

Or promised Springs upon a further shore. 

When darkness binds the fruit, and hopelessness the core. 

For he is dead ! O God, could we but see 

Aught but this empty space of doubtful years! 
But he is dead ! Daylight can never free 

Perpetual Sorrow, dwelling in our tears. 
Nor Night that Day, wherever Grief appears. 

Yet we shall one time go, as all things must, 
Down by the same far way of formless fears; 

Already is the night upon our dust; 

Years may seem many, yet not many; time is just! 

Then let us on ! Draw down the curtain ! Pass 

On through the years, on with each shadowy crowd, 
Dreams, Hopes and Fears, a melancholy mass — 

A Host of Pains that moan nor cry aloud! 
Each waiting for some hope beyond the cloud! 

Yet shall it speak us when the light is done; 
Shall aught reward us waiting there calm-browed. 

Each hour one less of dying ! Let us on ! 

Night can but make more perfect that which Day's 
begun. 

[134] 



SONGS OF THE EVENTIDE 



SOUL 

Awake, asleep, 'tis all the same, 
Deep, deep within the heart, 

We marvel at thy magic name; 

We question of our own frail frame; 

The where it goes, the whence it came, 
And wonder what thou art! 

Yet at the last we know no more 

Than first we knew — than this : 
Now that we go by the same door 
We passed in birth a time before. 
May we again not find some shore 
Where life that is not, is! 



UNCERTAINTY 

Like Mariners, night-lost, we seek 
The dim intangibles of Life; 

Some little sign we fain would speak, 
Some little spot with daylight rife. 

Some little light that could avail ; 

Some little isle of known green ; 
And yet we sail, and ever sail, 

With only the black night between. 

[135] 



LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 



THE TOLL 

From out the womb of Fear the Soul, 

In earthly raiment drest, 
First gave to Love the lesser toll, 

To Death then paid the rest. 

Till seawards faring on it thrust, 

Earth-free, across the stream; 
Rendering to Earth, Earth's all — its dust! 

To Life, Life's all — its Dream. 



FIDELITY 

Those things which to us brightest seem. 

Are but a dream! 

A moment's joy, a sudden flight, 

As falls the slow down-gliding light 

Into the night. 



The joys and sorrows of today. 
The lights that play 
Their shadows on the hopes of men. 
Pass, and the Morrow comes, and then 
Darkness again. 

[136] 



SONGS OF THE EVENTIDE 



All things within the total sway 
Fade and decay; 

Till Love, Love like a star appears 
Trembling above the mist of years, 
Veiled in her tears. 



GOOD NIGHT 

Good night! Not yet! The Summer's sun 
Hath scarce attained her northern height; 

The Harvest Songs have scarce begun; 
Too soon, dear heart. Good Night! 

Yet when it comes, with glorious gold, 
From leaf to leaf in sumptuous flight, 

Full Autumn, let thine heart then hold. 
Strain of the years. Good Night! 

Yes, when it comes, a Shadow, lined 
Full of the mild stars' thinnest light, 

Each as a fainting Hope, resigned. 
Shall whisper. Heart, Good Night! * 

And oh, the joy with faltering breath, 
As wondering, each shall of the Light 

Ask, and hear this, — '^ 'Tis as I saith, 
Dawn, and ye called it night! " 

[137] 



LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 



Then over all a star stilled sea, 

And star-fields flashing gold to white; 

And far-off music, murmuring, free; 
Then will it be, Good Night! 



THE GARDEN OF LOVE 

I know a garden spot where grows 
Flowers, than lily or white rose 
More passion sweet, where ever blows 
A breeze more soft than any wind. 

And through the leaves the ripe fruits swing, 
And round the dawn the gold threads cling 
More bright than sun or anything, — 
Howbeit the stars do ever shine. 

The gold is of my Lady's hair. 

Than white acacias, far more fair 

Her breasts, and from her lips, grow there 

Pomegranates, needful of their stain. 

And in her cheeks flushed flowers find 
Sweet shelter, and the evening wind 
Cools the rich herbage of every kind 
That feedeth on her burning love. 



[138] 



SONGS OF THE EVENTIDE 



Camellias cluster round her feet, 1 

And hyacinth and lilies, sweet j 

Virginities, (and others meet 
For riper hours) twine her arms. 

More blue than bluest gentian lies 1 

The star-dawn, caught within her eyes; j 

Faint as the little wind that sighs 
To wake the Morning, — so her breath. 



And there are cedars weird with myrrhs, 
Phantastic yews and curious firs. 
And odorous boughs and lavenders, 
And Silence, — that is perfect love. 

Nor Sun, nor Summer noons can pale 
That twilight space, where nightly sail 
On far off seas beyond the veil, — 
The Dream-barks bound from filmy shores. 

And when sweet Love unlocks the night 
And from the verge the moon swings white, 
O Then how strange the misty light 
That glimmers by the land and sea! 



[139] 



LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 



FLIGHT 

With a rush of wings, and a rush of air, 
I soared away from the people there. 
They of the earth who would never dare 
Soar away from their world of care. 

Out from the throes of the City's street, 
Hot with the pain of people's feet. 
To the rhythm of life with a pulsing beat 
Skyw^ards I flew with a motion fleet. 

Rigid wings to the air outspread, 
Fear, and phantom of danger fled. 
Nerves of metal and thoughts ahead, — 
On through the voidless airs I sped. 

" What care I for the earth," I cried, 

" Now fear and phantom of fear have died ! " 

Yet well I knew that I rode beside 

Death on the verge of that surging tide. 

Every moment of burning zeal, 
Sinews, fibers, and nerves of steel. 
Grip of iron, yet quick to feel 
Every movement of wing and keel, 

[140] 



SONGS OF THE EVENTIDE 



I 



Swiftly upwards the breezes bear, 
Or plunging now as the winds ensnare ; 
Who of the City will out and dare, 
Battle the wraiths of the whirling air. 

Who of the City will up and go 
Over the trees when the west winds blow? 
Knowing well, as they all must know, 
Death may wait on the plain below. 

Not they of the pavements, pale, effete. 
Fearing the things of the Night they meet, 
But they who know the rhythm and beat 
Of life, is far from the City's street; 

They who never will fume and fret ; 
They who fear not if Night be met; 
They who of danger will soon forget 
When the tide is back and the storm is set; 

They who of Nature are wild and free 
And love to fight with the things that be, 
Whose hearts are attuned in ecstasy 
With the winds of earth and the open sea. 

Spirit of Motion, yet unsung, 

Hope of the ages, now outflung 

From the Heart of Man that was ever wrung 

With the dream of the Winds to soar among; 

[141] 



LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 



Quivering, pulsing, like a thing 

Wild, yet to Man of submissive vising, 

Of thee who shall say what the Years may bring! 

What songs may a future Race not sing! 

Now calm, now tense, in a winged car. 
Free to fly to the freest star. 
Still of the Earth, yet the Verge not far, — 
These are some of the things that are! 

Dawnlight, Noon, and the Noon's pale beam, 
City and forest and distant stream 
Passing below in a filmy dream, — 
These are some of the things that seem! 

Moments of tense and ardent zeal. 
Thoughts of lightning, nerves of steel 
To guide each movement of wing and keel, — 
These are some of the things to feel! 

These are some of the things that free 
Hope in this world of Mystery. 
Speeding on over shore and sea, 
O Who may not say what beyond may be ! 



[142] 



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